Guide
Commercial fishing licence and compliance
How to get a commercial fishing licence and comply with UK fishing regulations. Covers vessel licensing, quota allocation, catch recording, I-VMS requirements, and fish export certificates.
Commercial fishing in UK waters requires a fishing vessel licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in England, or equivalent bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Important: No new fishing licences are issued. You must transfer an existing licence from another vessel.
Fishing vessel licensing
Getting a licence through transfer
Since no new licences are created, you need to:
- Find a vessel owner willing to transfer their licence entitlement
- Ensure the entitlement matches your vessel's tonnage and engine power
- Apply to MMO for the transfer
- Wait for Notification of Entitlement (aim: 5 working days)
Check weekly: It's a licence condition to check for variations every week.
Vessel size categories
Key size thresholds
| Size | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Under 8m | Max 100kW engine for aggregation licensing |
| 10m and under | Max 150kW engine; pool quota allocation |
| Over 10m | FPO membership or non-sector allocation |
| 12m and over | Electronic logbook (ELSS) required |
I-VMS requirements
Under-12m vessels in England must have I-VMS from May 2025.
Getting I-VMS compliant
- Purchase an approved I-VMS device
- Have it professionally installed
- Register with MMO
- Ensure it transmits regularly when fishing
Grant funding: £1.57 million was distributed through EMFF to help with device costs.
Quota and FQA system
How UK fishing quota is allocated and traded.
Accessing quota
For over 10m vessels:
- Join a Fish Producer Organisation (FPO) - they manage quota for members
- Or operate as 'non-sector' with direct MMO allocation
- Can lease additional FQA units as needed
For 10m and under:
- Access quota through the pool system
- Monthly catch limits published by MMO
Catch recording and reporting
ELSS reporting timeline
| Report | When |
|---|---|
| DEP (Departure) | When leaving port |
| FAR (Fishing Activity) | Daily by 23:59 UTC |
| PNO (Prior Notification) | 4+ hours before arrival |
| LAN (Landing Declaration) | Within 24 hours of landing |
| TRA (Transhipment) | Within 24 hours of transfer |
Under 10m vessels: Use the catch recording service (phone or app).
Vessel registration
Vessels must be registered before obtaining a licence.
Export catch certificates
Required for exporting fish to many destinations.
Preparing for export
- Register for the catch certificate service
- Complete catch certificate for each consignment
- Obtain Export Health Certificate if required
- Check destination-specific requirements
From 10 January 2026: Additional information required for EU exports under IUU regulations.
Small vessel safety
Vessels under 15m have specific safety requirements.