Marine Management Organisation
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All licences refer to fishing opportunities within the UK EEZ
Understanding your vessel licence
Your fishing vessel licence is in several parts. You must read each part carefully to make sure you understand the terms attached to it and that they are correct for your fishing activity.
Contact your local Marine Management Organisation (MMO) office with any questions and notify them immediately if any of the details are incorrect.
An incorrect licence is invalid and you could be liable to penalties.
It is your responsibility to check your licence documents before going to sea as licences can be changed at any time. MMO publishes variations online and notifies those who have provided their contact information.
You can provide MMO with up to 2 emails, mobile phone numbers, or both, as a way of getting direct alerts about changes. You can receive notifications yourself, but it may make sense to nominate someone based onshore who can contact you on your vessel quickly.
Variations are considered to have been received when they are published online. You are required, as part of your licence conditions, to check each week for any changes.
Part 1: Vessel details
This part includes:
- category of licence
- official licence number
- characteristics of your vessel
- registered owners
- specific authorities for scallop dredging, beam trawl fishing, fish for shellfish with pots, fixed nets or both
- membership of a fish producer organisation
Part 2: Conditions
This specifies how your vessel will fish. You may be directed to make landings at certain ports and times.
Part 3: Schedule
This sets out the authority under which you are allowed to fish.
Part 4: Annex
This lists species that you are not permitted to fish and any catch limits for stocks that you are able to fish and land.
Fishing vessel licences: 10 metre and under vessels - non-sector
These are vessels 10-metres-and-under that dont belong to a producer organisation.
Licences for the non-sector and Isle of Man have the same conditions and schedules, and their own specific annexes.
All Limited licences for the non-sector have the same conditions, schedule and annexe.
Fishing vessel licences: 10 metre and under vessels - sector
All vessels that are members of a producer organisation have the same conditions and schedule.
They each have their own specific annexes.