Guidance

United Kingdom Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA)

The UKSIA manages UK domestic fishing vessel access to non-UK waters and foreign vessel access to UK waters.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is acting as the UK Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA) to issue fishing vessel licences on behalf of the UK sea fish licensing authorities of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to manage UK fishing vessel access to non-UK waters, and foreign vessel access to UK waters.

The UK is an independent coastal state and vessels from the EU and other coastal states wishing to access UK waters will require a fishing vessel licence issued by the UKSIA.

In addition to their UK licence, UK vessels require external waters licences to fish in waters outside of British Fishery Limits, including waters of the European Union and other coastal states such as Norway and the Faroe Islands, and in the waters of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) to which the UK is a contracting party.

The UK fisheries authorities (Marine Scotland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Welsh Government and the Marine Management Organisation) remain responsible for the administration and management of UK vessel licensing within the UK EEZ.

UK Vessels

From 1 January 2021 vessels will require an external waters licence to fish outside of ‘British Fishery Limits’ (UK EEZ). Before applying for an external waters licence, please check that the area you intend to operate is outside of British Fishery Limits. View the map. Access for UK vessels to Crown Dependencies (CDs)’ territorial seas is through the relevant CDs who issue these fishing licences.

General Provisions for UK vessels

Applications for external waters licences must include a valid email address to which the licence will be issued and, for vessels 12m and over in length, an International Maritime Organization (IMO) number. Vessels will not be licensed without this information. If you have not notified your Sea Fish Licensing Authority or the SIA of a valid email address, or your email address has changed, you must send this to UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk along with your vessel name, RSS number and PLN and we will update our records.

Vessels 12 metres and over in length must have an International Maritime Organization (IMO) number and permanently mark this in a visible place either on the ship’s hull or superstructure. If you do not already have a IMO number you can apply for free at http://imonumbers.ihs.com. You must notify the UK SIA of your IMO number by emailing it to UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk along with your vessel name, RSS number and PLN and we will update our records accordingly.

EU waters

Fishing by UK vessels in EU waters is subject to authorisation by the European Commission and requires a valid external licence issued by the UKSIA. The list of UK vessels has been published below with a copy of the licence conditions.

If your vessel is on the list but you have not received a licence please contact the UKSIA via the email address in the ‘Contact the SIA’ section on this page.

If you intend to operate outside of British Fishery Limits and wish to apply for an external waters licence, please complete the application form and submit to the SIA via the email address in the ‘Contact the SIA’ section on this page.

Access to Republic of Ireland 0-6nm

Northern Irish vessels are only permitted to access waters within 0 and 6 nautical miles of the territorial sea adjacent to the Republic of Ireland if expressly authorised at Part 1 section 3 of their UK external waters licence.

Norway and Faroe Islands waters

Access to waters of Norway and the fishery protection zone around Svalbard have been agreed for 2022. Details can be found here Vessels with access to the relevant fishing opportunities can apply for an external waters licence by completing the application form below and submitting it to UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk. The UKSIA will verify applications with your fisheries administration and forward valid applications to the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate for approval. Upon receipt of approval the UKSIA will issue the external waters licence by email.

Access to waters of the Faroe Islands has now been agreed for 2022 and details can be found in our press release. You can apply for an external waters licence by completing the form below which must include authorisation from your producer organisation at Section C to confirm that your vessel has access to the relevant fishing opportunities in Faroese waters.

Completed applications must be submitted to the UKSIA UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk who will verify your application with your fisheries administration and forward valid applications to the Faroese Ministry of Fisheries (Vørn) for approval. Upon receipt of approval the UKSIA will issue the external waters licence by email.

UK external waters licences for Faroe Islands waters have now been issued and details can be found in the UK vessel list for external waters.

You must not fish in third country waters until you have received a valid external waters licence issued by the UKSIA, and you must check that your vessel is on the UK vessel list for external waters published on this webpage with an indication in the appropriate third county waters column. If any of the details on your external waters licence are incorrect or for any other enquires relating to your external waters licence please contact the UKSIA at UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk.

RFMO Waters

If you intend to operate in the waters of an Regional Fisheries Management Organisation RFMO you will need a specific external waters licence in addition to your base domestic licence. Apply using the form below and submit to the SIA.

The relevant RFMO conditions below apply to those vessels appearing on the UK vessel list for external waters below with a corresponding positive entry in the columns headed “NEAFC Waters Access” or “IOTC Waters Access” (only at this time). Your foreign vessel licence is subject to licence conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them.

General provisions for UK vessels

Until you are issued a valid licence for the waters in which you intend to operate you must not fish and all fishing gear must be lashed and stowed if transiting.

If you have not notified your Sea Fish Licensing Authority or the SIA of a valid email address, or your email address has changed, you must send this to UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk along with your vessel name, RSS number and PLN and we will update our records. In future, licences will only be issued by email.

Vessels 12 metres and over in length must have an International Maritime Organization (IMO) number and permanently mark this in a visible place either on the ship’s hull or superstructure. If you do not already have a IMO number you can apply for free at http://imonumbers.ihs.com. You must notify the UK SIA of your IMO number by emailing it to UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk along with your vessel name, RSS number and PLN and we will update our records accordingly.

Foreign vessels

Since 1 January 2021 all foreign vessels are required to have a valid foreign vessel licence issued by the UKSIA to fish in UK waters including the UK EEZ, relevant areas of the UK 6-12nm zone, and in the 0-6nm zone around Northern Ireland. View the map

General Provisions for all foreign vessels

Until you are issued a valid licence for fishing in the UK EEZ or 6-12nm zone you must not fish and all fishing gear must be lashed and stowed if transiting. Enquiries regarding the licensing process for UK waters must be directed to your flag state fisheries authority.

Your foreign vessel licence is subject to licence conditions which are published on the UKSIA website. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them, and applicable UK law, including customs rules, when operating in UK waters.

Norwegian vessels

Applications for Norwegian vessels to fish in UK waters are submitted by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries to the UKSIA. For details on how to apply you must contact your flag state fisheries authority directly. Where an application is approved, the UKSIA will issue a foreign vessel licence directly to the vessel owner by email. If any of the details in the licence you receive are incorrect, you should inform your flag state fisheries authority immediately.

A list of Norwegian vessels issued foreign vessel licences can be found in our approved Norwegian vessel section.

Your foreign vessel licence is subject to licence conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them. You can find the conditions in our approved Norwegian vessel section.

EU Vessels

Applications for EU vessels to fish in UK waters are submitted by the European Commission to the UKSIA on behalf of EU Member States.

Where an application is approved, the UKSIA will issue a foreign vessel licence directly to the vessel owner by email. If any of the details in the licence you receive are incorrect, you should inform your flag state fisheries authority immediately.

A list of vessels issued foreign vessel licences can be found in our approved EU vessel section.

Your foreign vessel licence is subject to licence conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them. You can find the conditions in our approved EU vessel section.

Faroese vessels

Applications for Faroese vessels to fish in UK waters are submitted by Vørn to the UKSIA. For details on how to apply you must contact your flag state fisheries authority directly. Where an application is approved, the UKSIA will issue a foreign vessel licence directly to the vessel owner by email. If any of the details in the licence you receive are incorrect, you should inform your flag state fisheries authority immediately.

A list of Faroese vessels issued foreign vessel licences can be found in our approved Faroese vessels section.

Your foreign vessel licence is subject to licence conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them. You can find the conditions in our approved Faroese vessels section.

Access to UK and EU 6-12nm waters

Under Annex 38 to the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the ‘TCA’), during the adjustment period the UK and EU have rights of access for fishing in specific parts of each other’s waters between 6 and 12 nautical miles from baselines in ICES divisions 4c and 7d-g for qualifying vessels. Access is to fish in the zones and for the species specified in the table below. A qualifying vessel is one that fished for those species in the appropriate zone, in at least 4 of the 5 years between 2012 and 2016, or its direct replacement.

Access to UK waters for EU vessels

Evidence of qualification must include positional data showing fishing activity in the relevant UK 6-12nm zone with corresponding catch data recording catches of any of the permitted species for that zone (see table below). The catch data must be provided for the same date/time period as the positional data. This evidence must be provided for at least one day in each of four years out the five years between 2012 and 2016.

The UK will consider a range of evidence sources in its decision as to whether a vessel is a qualifying vessel:

Positional data

For vessels equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) this type of data must be provided showing fishing activity within the relevant zone in all four years.

Vessels under-12 metres in overall length that were not equipped with VMS during the period but had an automatic identification system (AIS) installed must provide AIS data where VMS is not available.

Vessels under-12 metres which were not equipped with VMS or AIS throughout the period must provide chartplotter data clearly demonstrating the date/position/speed of the vessel, where VMS and AIS data are not available.

Where available, official sightings data at a position defined by latitude and longitude of fishing activity within the relevant zone of UK 6-12nm waters will also be considered.

All under-12m vessels must provide positional data (VMS, AIS, chartplotter or official sightings) for at least two out of the required four years. For the remaining years they must provide alternative evidence (see next section).

Alternative evidence

Vessels under-12 metres in overall length which do not have VMS, AIS or chartplotter or offical sightings data may provide alternative evidence of fishing activity within the relevant area, for up to two out of the required four years. This may be officially recognised scientific survey data such as Valpena data for French vessels (but only in relation to Valpena rectangles of which at least 50% is in the relevant zone of UK waters) or equally reliable and specific scientific survey data for vessels from other EU member States.

Again, this alternative evidence must correspond to the same date/time period as the catch data.

Where positional data is available which contradicts the alternative evidence supplied, that data will take precedence over the alternative evidence.

Catch data

Catch data must be provided from statutory returns including logbooks or, where appropriate, sales note data.

The catch data must record the permitted species for the relevant zone as indicated in the table below.

Catch data cannot be considered as evidence of qualifying activity on its own. For example, catch data recorded by ICES rectangle must be supported with positional data indicating that the catching activity was specifically carried out within that part of the ICES rectangle in the relevant zone of UK 6-12nm waters (see previous sections on positional data and alternative evidence).

Direct Replacements

Annex 38 of the TCA states that access to the relevant part of the UK and EU 6-12nm zone is granted for qualifying vessels, which includes direct replacements of the original qualifying vessels. The UK’s approach to licensing direct replacement vessels is based on ensuring that a replacement vessel is the same or similar to the original qualifying vessel it is replacing. This approach maintains the stability of the fisheries and also provides a limited but necessary degree of flexibility, while ensuring that no additional capacity is added to the fisheries beyond the level in place during the reference period 2012-2016.

The principles for the UK’s approach to direct replacements are outlined below:

  1. A global ceiling on vessel numbers, gross tonnage (GT) and engine power (kW) is established for each relevant member state of the EU, based on the qualifying vessels as at the end of the reference period (2012-2016). Replacements will not be authorised if they result in the ceiling being exceeded, even if they are within the limits on individual increases set out below.
  2. Replacements are made on a one for one basis.
  3. Replacements may only be made once a year, except in exceptional circumstances.
  4. A replacement vessel may only increase in capacity by up to 10% in kW and 20% in GT compared to the original qualifying vessel it is replacing.
  5. Any increase in kW or GT on replacement is always assessed by reference to the original qualifying vessel, not a previous replacement vessel.
  6. The replacement vessel must be of the same metier (gear type) as the original qualifying vessel. The metier groups are:
  • Static/passive gear.
  • Trawlers.
  • Dredgers
  • Demersal seine-netters.

There are two exceptions to principles four and six above:

a) Small vessels: where both the original qualifying vessel and the replacement vessel are under 12 metres in length and do not exceed 221kW, the vessels are not required to be of the same metier (gear type) and the restrictions on individual capacity increases do not apply.

b) Vessels replaced during the reference period or between 2017 and 2020 (i.e. before the TCA first applied): if the original qualifying vessel and the replacement vessel have a proven ownership link, or a proven direct capacity link stated in a “permis de mise en exploitation” (PME) for French vessels, a greater individual capacity increase of up to 40% in kW and 70% in GT is permitted. This is only permitted once and will not apply to any subsequent replacement of the qualifying vessel.

Licensing

Applications with supporting evidence for qualifying vessels are submitted to the UKSIA by the European Commission on behalf of a vessel’s flag member state.

The UK will assess applications and, in addition to the evidence provided, may use additional data sources including commercially available data in its evaluation. This includes AIS data which is commercially available.

EU vessel owners must direct enquiries regarding their applications and evidence to their national fisheries authority.

Table of permitted zones and species:

Vessels flying the flag of Belgium

Sea area of United Kingdom waters between 6 and 12 nautical miles of the baselines in ICES areas 4c and 7d-g Permitted Species*
An area between: (i) a line drawn due north from Cromer lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn due east from North Foreland lighthouse. Demersal
An area between: (i) a line drawn due east from North Foreland lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn due south from Dungeness New lighthouse. Herring Demersal
an area between: (i) a line drawn due south from Dungeness New lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn due south from Selsey Bill. Demersal
an area between: (i) a line drawn south-east from Straight Point lighthouse and (ii) the northernmost boundary of ICES area 7g (Latitude 52°N) Demersal
* “demersal” means all sea fish except salmon, migratory trout, mackerel, clupeoid fishes, sand eels, Norway pout, smelts, eels, great weevers, crustaceans and molluscs (other than squids).

Vessels flying the flag of France

Sea area of United Kingdom waters between 6 and 12 nautical miles of the baselines in ICES areas 4c and 7d-g Permitted Species*
an area between: (i) a line drawn due east from Lowestoft lighthouse and (ii) longitude 2 degrees 56 minutes W; All descriptions of sea fish
an area between: (i) longitude 2 degrees 56 minutes W and (ii) a line drawn due south from Eddystone lighthouse; Demersal
an area between: (i) a line drawn due south from Eddystone lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn south-west from Longships lighthouse; Demersal Lobster Crawfish scallops
an area between: (i) a line drawn south-west from Longships lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn north-west from Hartland Point lighthouse. Demersal Lobster Crawfish
Such part of the area within 12 miles of the baselines adjacent to Lundy Island, but outside 6 miles from all baselines, as lies to the north and east of a line drawn north-west from Hartland Point lighthouse. Demersal
Such part of the area within 12 miles, but outside 6 miles, from the baselines and between: (i) a line drawn north west from Hartland Point lighthouse and (ii) the northernmost boundary of ICES area 7g (Latitude 52°N) as lies outside 12 miles from the baselines adjacent to Lundy Island. Demersal
* “demersal” means all sea fish except salmon, migratory trout, mackerel, clupeoid fishes, sand eels, Norway pout, smelts, eels, great weevers, crustaceans and molluscs (other than squids).

Vessels flying the flag of Federal Republic of Germany

Sea area of United Kingdom waters between 6 and 12 nautical miles of the baselines in ICES areas 4c and 7d-g Permitted Species
an area between: an area between: (i) a line drawn due east from North Foreland lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn due south from Dungeness New lighthouse. Herring

Vessels flying the flag of the Netherlands

Sea area of United Kingdom waters between 6 and 12 nautical miles of the baselines in ICES areas 4c and 7d-g Permitted Species
an area between: (i) a line drawn due east from North Foreland lighthouse and (ii) a line drawn due south from Dungeness New lighthouse. Herring

Access to Northern Ireland 0-6nm

Republic of Ireland vessels are only permitted to access waters within 0 and 6 nautical miles of the territorial sea adjacent to Northern Ireland if expressly authorised at Part 1 section 3 of their UK foreign vessel licence.

Access to EU waters for UK vessels

Member State European Union waters within 6 and 12 nautical miles from baselines of the coastal states of: Permitted Species*
France Belgian/French frontier to Cap d’Alprech west (50° 42 30” N — 1° 33’ 30” E) All Species
Netherlands Texel south point, west to the to the northernmost border of ICES 4c (line of latitude 53°30’N) Demersal
Ireland Mine Head south to Hook Point Demersal Herring Mackerel
Ireland Hook Point to the northernmost border of ICES 7g (line of latitude 52°N) Demersal Herring Mackerel Nephrops Scallops
* “demersal” means all sea fish except salmon, migratory trout, mackerel, clupeoid fishes, sand eels, Norway pout, smelts, eels, great weevers, crustaceans and molluscs (other than squids).

The following maps are available showing the areas of European Union waters within 6 and 12 nautical miles to which qualifying vessels have access:

EU Waters UK access EU Waters ROI UK Access

If you wish to apply for a licence to access EU waters within 6-12nm please complete the application form below and submit it to the uksia@marinemanagement.org.uk with your supporting evidence.

Contact the SIA

You can reach the SIA via telephone on 0208 026 5062 or email UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk with your name, telephone number, vessel name and PLN number and a brief outline of your enquiry and a member of the team will call you back as soon as possible.

Approved UK Vessels

External waters licences are issued by email for access to EU, Norwegian, Faroe Islands and Regional Fisheries Management Organisation waters in 2022. Before fishing in any external waters you must check that you are on the list of approved vessels and in receipt of your external waters licence.

If your vessel is on the list but you have not received your licence contact the UKSIA immediately. If your vessel does not appear on this list, or you wish to apply for an external waters licence, please contact the SIA using the details above.

It is the responsibility of the licence holder and vessel master to ensure they are familiar with the conditions set out in your fishing vessel licence. Please ensure that you do not fish outside of the times permitted by your licence. Validity dates can be found at part 1 section 3 of the licence issued to you.

2022 UK Vessel List for External Waters

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Approved Norwegian Vessels

Below is the list of Norwegian vessels for which a foreign vessel licence has been issued for UK waters in respect of access to the UK EEZ (12-200nm limit), with validity as indicated in the relevant columns. This list is also maintained and published on behalf of Scottish Ministers for the purposes of section 44 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

The foreign vessel licence conditions for Norwegian vessels and most recent notification of variation that applies to these licences are also available below.

2022 - Norway Vessel List for UK waters

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Approved EU Vessels

UK Foreign Vessel Licences for access to UK waters in 2022 have been issued by email to EU vessel owners and, where notified, copied to vessel operators for the vessels in the 2022 – EU Vessel list for UK waters below. Before fishing in UK waters you must check that you are on the list of approved vessels and in receipt of your external waters licence. You must contact your flag state fisheries authority if you have not received your licence or your vessel is not on the 2022 list.

Below is the list of EU vessels for which a foreign vessel licence has been issued for UK waters in respect of access to UK EEZ (12-200nm limit), UK 6-12nm (ICES 4c, 7d-g) and Northern Ireland 0-6nm under the Voisinage arrangements, with validity as indicated in the relevant columns. This list is also maintained and published on behalf of Scottish Ministers for the purposes of section 44 of the Fisheries Act 2020. The Foreign vessel licence conditions and most recent notification of variation that applies to these licences are also available below.”

2022 - EU vessel list for UK waters

UK Foreign Vessel Licence (EU Vessels) Conditions variation 1: 02 May 2022

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Approved Faroese Vessels

Below is the list of Faroese vessels for which a foreign vessel licence has been issued for UK waters in respect of access to the UK EEZ (12-200nm limit), with validity as indicated in the relevant columns.

This list is also maintained and published on behalf of Scottish Ministers for the purposes of section 44 of the Fisheries Act 2020. The Foreign vessel licence conditions and most recent notification of variation that applies to these licences are also available below

2022: Faroese vessel list

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UK Foreign Vessel Licence (FRO Vessels) Conditions 2022

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UK Foreign Vessel Licence (FRO Vessels) Variation 2: 16 September 2022

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Crown Dependencies

Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) the Crown Dependencies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney and Sark), the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man and the EU have granted reciprocal access to relevant territorial seas reflecting the actual extent and nature of fishing activity that it can be demonstrated was carried out during the period beginning on 1 February 2017 and ending on 31 January 2020 by qualifying vessels and under the former London Fisheries Convention and the Granville Bay Agreement.

The relevant zones of the London Fisheries Convention are below. The relevant areas of the Granville Bay Agreement can be found here.

Member State European Union waters within 6 and 12 nautical miles from baselines of the coastal states of: Permitted Species*
France Belgian/French frontier to Cap d’Alprech west (50° 42 30” N — 1° 33’ 30” E) All Species
Netherlands Texel south point, west to the to the northernmost border of ICES 4c (line of latitude 53°30’N) Demersal
Ireland Mine Head south to Hook Point Demersal Herring Mackerel
Ireland Hook Point to the northernmost border of ICES 7g (line of latitude 52°N) Demersal Herring Mackerel Nephrops Scallops

A qualifying vessel is any vessel which fished in the territorial sea adjacent to that territory or that Member State on more than 10 days in any 12 -month period ending on 31 January in the reference period above. Replacement vessels can be granted within the extent and nature parameters.

The Crown Dependencies and the EU are in the process of implementing these access arrangements.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey have introduced temporary access arrangements to their waters at the request of the European Commission while evidence of fishing during the reference period in line with the TCA is collated and reviewed. These temporary arrangements are without prejudice to the right to limit access in accordance with the TCA.

Crown Dependencies territorial seas

The Crown Dependencies are responsible for authorisation and licensing of fishing vessels within their waters. Applications for EU vessels to fish in Crown Dependencies waters are submitted by the European Commission to the UKSIA on behalf of EU Member States. The UK SIA operates as a single point of contact between the Crown Dependencies and the European Commission for the purposes of exchanging information for licensing and authorisations.

Applications are forwarded to the relevant Crown Dependency and where an application is approved, that Crown Dependency will issue an EU vessel licence directly to the vessel owner by email. Some Crown Dependencies charge a fee for fishing vessel licences. If any of the details in the licence you receive are incorrect, you should inform your flag state fisheries authority immediately.

Guernsey

The EU vessels listed below are licensed by the Bailiwick of Guernsey to fish in the relevant waters of the Bailiwick (in line with the TCA criteria).

These licences are subject to licence conditions which can be found on the Government of Guernsey’s website

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them.

Further details and applicable legislation are available at https://www.gov.gg/fishing.

Jersey

The EU vessels listed below are licensed by the Government of Jersey to fish in the relevant Jersey waters (in line with the TCA criteria).

Jersey’s EU vessel licences are subject to licence conditions which can be found on the Government of Jersey website These conditions apply equally to full and temporary licences.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the licence conditions and any variations made to them.

2022 - EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Access

The EU vessels on the following list are authorised to conduct fishing activities in Jersey waters under a temporary licence.

EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Access – Temporary Licence

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All other EU vessels previously listed under agreed transitional arrangements until 31 January 2022, may no longer conduct fishing activities in Jersey waters after this date.

Isle of Man

Information on foreign vessel licensing in Isle of Man territorial waters can be found here

EU 6-12nm waters

Fishing by Crown Dependencies vessels in EU 6-12nm waters is subject to authorisation by the European Commission and requires a valid UK external licence issued by the UKSIA.

If you wish to apply for a licence to access EU Member States waters within 6-12nm please approach the relevant Crown Dependency.

In the case of Jersey vessels, this may permit access to French 3-12nm waters formerly covered in the Bay of Granville Agreement.

Devolved Administrations

The UK fisheries authorities (Marine Scotland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Welsh Government and the Marine Management Organisation) remain responsible for the administration and management of UK vessel licensing within the UK EEZ.

Marine Management Organisation

Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-your-fishing-vessel-licence Phone: 0300 123 1032

Marine Scotland

Website: https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-and-fisheries-licensing Phone: 0300 244 4000

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)

Website: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/fisheries/fishing-vessel-licensing

Welsh Government

Website: https://gov.wales/sea-fisheries

Regional fisheries management organisations (RFMO)

Compliance and legislation

At 11pm on 31 December 2020 the majority of European Union fisheries legislation was retained as UK law and continues to apply to UK fishing vessels and foreign vessels fishing in UK waters (where appropriate). At the same time relevant national fisheries legislation also became applicable to foreign vessels. Fisheries is a devolved matter in the UK and alongside national legislation and retained EU law there are specific regulations that apply in English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish waters. Links to the legislation are below:

The official website for all UK regulations is https://www.legislation.gov.uk/

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) publishes a non-exhaustive list of fisheries legislation called the ‘Blue Book’.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-regulations-the-blue-book

Guidance and legislation applicable in Scottish waters can be found at the following links:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-and-fisheries-compliance/
https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-and-fisheries-compliance-legislation/

Northern Ireland legislation applicable to non-UK vessels fishing in NI waters https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-legislation-applicable-non-uk-vessels-fishing-ni-waters

Published 31 December 2020
Last updated 2627 September 2022 + show all updates
  1. EU vessel list for UK waters and UK vessel list for external waters updated.

  2. EU vessel lists for Jersey and UK waters updated.

  3. EU vessel list for UK waters updated.

  4. EU & UK Vessel list update

  5. EU vessel list for UK water & EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Acces

  6. EU vessel list for UK waters - update

  7. EU vessel list for UK waters - update

  8. UK Foreign Vessel Licence Variation update

  9. EU vessel list for UK waters updated.

  10. 14 September update

  11. EU & NOR update

  12. 2022 - EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Access - update

  13. EU & UK Vessel list update

  14. Vessel list update

  15. EU vessel list for UK waters - update

  16. EU & UK vessel list update

  17. UK & EU Vessel list update

  18. Vessel list update for UK and EU

  19. UK Vessel List for External Waters update

  20. UK Vessel list for External Waters updated

  21. EU Vessel list update

  22. EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Access - Update

  23. UK Vessel list update

  24. 26 August update

  25. 25 August 2022 update

  26. EU & UK update

  27. EU & UK update

  28. UK Vessel update

  29. UK Vessel list update

  30. UK Vessel list update

  31. EU update

  32. UK Vessel update

  33. UK & NOR vessel list update

  34. EU update

  35. UK & NOR Update

  36. UK Vessel update

  37. EU & NOR vessel list update

  38. UK Foreign Vessel Licence (EU Vessels) Conditions (Variations) - update

  39. UK vessel list update

  40. EU update

  41. UK, FRO and EU vessel update

  42. UK update

  43. UK update

  44. EU vessel list

  45. EU Vessel list update

  46. EU Vessel List update

  47. Vessel list update

  48. Eu vessel list update

  49. UK & EU Vessel list

  50. Vessel list update

  51. Vessel List update

  52. UK Vessel update

  53. UK vessel list update

  54. EU & UK update

  55. EU & UK update

  56. Jersey list update

  57. EU and Norway Vessel List update

  58. Jersey EU Vessel List

  59. EU Vessel List

  60. EU & UK vessel list update

  61. EU vessel list update

  62. UK, EU, FRO vessel list updates

  63. EU & NOR update

  64. Update UK & EU

  65. UK & EU list update

  66. EU update

  67. Norway and EU vessels lists for UK waters updated

  68. EU vessel list for UK waters updated

  69. Vessels lists updated as at June 8 2022

  70. UK Vessel List Update

  71. FRO update

  72. UK & EU vessel lists ypdated

  73. uk and faroes vessel lists updated

  74. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  75. NOR & EU vessel lists updated

  76. Page updated with LICENCE TO FISH IN UNITED KINGDOM WATERS – FAROE ISLANDS VESSEL

  77. EU UK & NOR vessel lists updated

  78. UK & FRO updates

  79. Page updated with Faroese vessel list

  80. Page updated with UK, EU & Norway vessel lists

  81. EU and Norway update

  82. UK Vessel List

  83. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  84. Norway Vessel List update for UK Waters

  85. EU Update

  86. EU vessel list updated

  87. EU UK & NOR vessel lists updated

  88. UK & EU vessel lists updated

  89. page updated with UK Foreign Vessel Licence Conditions (2022)

  90. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  91. EU Vessel List for Jersey Waters Access – Temporary Licence - updated

  92. EU vessel list updated

  93. UK & EU vessel lists updated

  94. EU & UK lists updated

  95. UK and EU vessel lists updated

  96. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  97. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  98. UK update

  99. EU & UK Update

  100. UK & EU update

  101. UK Vessel Update

  102. EU Update

  103. EU & UK lists updated

  104. Lic Conditions

  105. EU Vessel list updated

  106. UK list for external waters updated

  107. Norway and UK vessel lists updated

  108. UK Foreign vessel licence (EU Vessels) Conditions 2022 document updated

  109. EU vessel list updated

  110. Spreadsheets updated

  111. UK Vessel list update

  112. UK Vessel list update

  113. UK Vessel List

  114. Updates 09/03

  115. EU & UK Vessel lists

  116. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  117. Vessel lists updated

  118. External & Jersey access

  119. UK & EU

  120. UK & NOR Update

  121. UK & EU List

  122. EU Vessel list for UK Water

  123. NOR updates

  124. RFMO update

  125. SIA Norway form

  126. UK Vessel List update

  127. UK Vessel List update

  128. EU list for UK Waters

  129. EU vessel list updated

  130. UK list updated

  131. Page updated with EU Vessel List of TCA licences for Guernsey Waters Access

  132. UK & EU vessel lists updated

  133. EU & UK lists updated

  134. UK & Norway vessel list

  135. UK list updated

  136. Uk and Norway lists updated

  137. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  138. UK & Norway lists updated

  139. Jersey and Guernsey updates

  140. UK and EU vessel lists updated

  141. spreadsheets updated for EU & UK

  142. EU List update

  143. UK List update

  144. EU vessel list updated

  145. EU & UK lists updated

  146. Vessel lists updated

  147. EU & UK lists updated

  148. EU & UK vessel lists updated

  149. EU list updated

  150. Norway Vessel List

  151. UK VL update

  152. EU & UK updates

  153. UK & EU sheets updated

  154. EU & UK update

  155. EU List

  156. 10 update

  157. EU & UK lists

  158. Vessel list update

  159. EU Vessel list update

  160. 2022 update

  161. Updates to Guernsey licences

  162. EU vessel list for Jersey waters updated

  163. 2022 UK vessel list for EU waters published

  164. 2022 Vessel list

  165. Details updated following the agreement for access to waters of Norway and the fishery protection zone around Svalbard.

  166. EU vessel list update

  167. UK vessel update

  168. UK Vessel update

  169. EU vessel list for UK waters updated

  170. EU and UK vessel lists updated

  171. UK vessel update

  172. EU Vessel list update

  173. EU update

  174. UK Vessel

  175. EU updates

  176. UK Vessel list

  177. EU & UK Vessel update

  178. EU Vessel list update

  179. EU Vessel

  180. EU & UK vessel list update

  181. Jersey update

  182. Jersey update

  183. EU Vessel list

  184. EU List update

  185. Page updated with vessel list - Bailiwick of Guernsey licences

  186. UK & EU updates

  187. UK & EU vessel updates

  188. EU vessel list update

  189. EU Vessel updated (2nd Edition)

  190. EU List updated

  191. UK Vessel list update

  192. EU vessel list for UK waters

  193. EU & UK vessel update

  194. EU water

  195. Jersey update

  196. EU Vessel list update

  197. UK Vessel list 5pm update

  198. UK Vessel update

  199. Updates

  200. UK & EU list update

  201. EU Vessel List Update

  202. UK Vessel List

  203. UK & EU list update

  204. November privacy notice

  205. UK Vessel list update

  206. UK Vessel List

  207. UK vessel list update

  208. Vessel lists for Jersey waters updated.

  209. UK Vessel List

  210. Guernsey update

  211. UK Vessel list update

  212. EU Vessel update

  213. UK Vessel list

  214. EU Vessel List

  215. Privacy notice update

  216. EU list update

  217. EU Vessel list update

  218. Jersey List update

  219. EU Vessel list

  220. EU vessel list for UK waters update

  221. Guernsey update

  222. Form updates

  223. EU vessel list for UK waters updated

  224. EU vessel list for UK waters updated

  225. EU Vessel update

  226. UK Vessel list update

  227. UK Vessel list update

  228. UK Vessel list update

  229. variation update

  230. Gurnsey update

  231. UK update

  232. 6-13mm update

  233. EU update

  234. UK Vessel update

  235. EU vessel conditions update

  236. EU Vessel list update

  237. EU update

  238. EU update

  239. SIA Application to Fish In European Union update

  240. EU & UK update

  241. EU Vessel list update

  242. UK and EU vessels lists updated

  243. EU list update

  244. EU & UK update

  245. Jersey list update

  246. UK vessel update

  247. UK waters

  248. UK Vessel List updated!

  249. EU Vessel List update

  250. EU and UK update

  251. EU Vessel list update for UK waters

  252. conditions UK update

  253. variation update

  254. Conditions update

  255. External update

  256. EU update

  257. EU update

  258. Vessel List update

  259. Guernsey update

  260. UK List

  261. UK Vessel update

  262. UK List

  263. EU Vessel List

  264. UK list for externals updated

  265. EU vessel list

  266. EU 6-12nm waters update

  267. UK & EU Vessel Lists

  268. European Waters form

  269. EU Vessel Update

  270. EU list update!

  271. UK Vessel List

  272. Eu list update

  273. EU vessel list update

  274. Text update

  275. EU Vessel List update

  276. UK Vessel List update

  277. EU Vessel List update

  278. EU Vessel List

  279. CD update

  280. EU vessel list update

  281. Update RFMO

  282. EU Vessel List

  283. EU Vessel List

  284. EU list update

  285. UK Vessel List

  286. EU list for UK waters

  287. UK Vessel list updated

  288. EU-UK waters vessel list updated.

  289. EU-UK and UK-External waters vessel lists updated.

  290. page updated with UK Vessel List for External Waters

  291. Page updated with EU vessel list for UK waters

  292. UK Vessel List

  293. EU Vessel List updated

  294. UK vessel list update

  295. EU Vessel List update

  296. Vessel List updated

  297. UK Vessel List

  298. EU List

  299. Guernsey Water List updated

  300. UK Vessel list update

  301. UK< EU and Gurnsey list

  302. EU Vessel List

  303. UK list

  304. EU Vessel list updated

  305. UK Vessel List

  306. UK List

  307. EU Vessel List

  308. Jersey List

  309. External Waters licence (EU) Conditions updated

  310. Jersey update

  311. Jersey update

  312. EU vessel list

  313. UK Vessel List update

  314. EU List update

  315. EU update

  316. Update - UK List

  317. Jersey update

  318. EU List

  319. UK List Update

  320. UK & EU Lists updated

  321. UK list updated

  322. EU list updated

  323. UK & EU list update

  324. UK list updated

  325. EU & UK list update

  326. EU list done

  327. UK list updated

  328. UK list update

  329. UK update

  330. EU & UK list update

  331. UK List

  332. EU List update

  333. EU List

  334. EU List

  335. Updated conditions

  336. Document update

  337. EU list update

  338. Vessel List

  339. Document update

  340. EU list update

  341. UK Vessel list

  342. Updated Guernsey text

  343. EU list update

  344. EU List update

  345. 22nd Update UK Vessels for EU Waters

  346. UK Water list updated

  347. UK list updated

  348. EU List update

  349. EU & UK List update

  350. UK Vessel update 12/03

  351. 11/03 updates

  352. Text amends

  353. UK Vessels

  354. UK Vessel List Updated

  355. EU Vessel List update

  356. EU Vessel List

  357. EU Vessel List

  358. EU Vessel List Update

  359. Uk Vessels in EU Wates list updated

  360. SIA update 26/02

  361. EU and UK Water List Update 25/02

  362. Variations added for UK temporary foreign vessel licence (EU vessels) and UK foreign vessel licence (EU vessels) Conditions

  363. UK vessel list for external waters updated and NEAFC vessel licence (UK vessels) conditions added.

  364. EU vessel list for UK waters updated

  365. Water Lists

  366. COntent update

  367. EU & UK water lists updated 17/02

  368. EU Vessel List

  369. EU Vessel List Updated 15/2

  370. EU & UK Waters updated

  371. Compliance and legislation section added

  372. EU Vessel List

  373. Uk vessel list for Eu waters

  374. EU Vessel list - update

  375. RFMO Waters title added

  376. If you intend to operate in the waters of an Regional Fisheries Management Organisation RFMO you will need a specific external waters licence in addition to your base domestic licence. Apply using the form below and submit to the SIA. - Added

  377. EU Vessel list for UK Waters - Updated 05/02

  378. UK vessel list for EU waters - updated

  379. Updated EU Vessel List

  380. Docs updated

  381. Updated

  382. Docs Updated

  383. Updated species list for access to Irish waters for UK waters

  384. Page amended to reflect licensing arrangements for 6-12nm zones.

  385. Eu Vessel List and Guernsey Access List updated.

  386. EU Vessel list for UK waters updated

  387. UK Vessel list for EU waters - update

  388. EU Vessel list for UK Waters

  389. EU Vessel list for UK waters - Updated

  390. UK Vessel list - update

  391. SIA Application update V3

  392. EU Vessl list for UK Waters updated

  393. updated application form

  394. EU vessels for UK waters update

  395. EU waters - update

  396. Updated EU vessel list for UK Waters

  397. list of UK vessels allowed to fish in EU waters updated

  398. UK vessels list for EU waters updated

  399. Conditions updated

  400. Updated UK vessel list for EU waters

  401. EU vessel list for UK waters update

  402. Jersey & IOM updates

  403. Guernsey added

  404. UK Vessel list for EU Waters - Update

  405. SIA Application to fish in Third Country Waters - Updated

  406. V3 vessel list UK waters

  407. Database update Uk Access

  408. UK water list updated.

  409. EU vessel list updated

  410. UK vessel list for EU waters updated

  411. First published.