Fisheries Act 2020
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Environment Agency, The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, APHA, DEFRA, Forestry Commission, Natural England
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 3 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
3 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Offences and prohibitions 3
Breach of sea‑fishing licence condition
Unlimited fineIf a condition attached to your vessel’s sea‑fishing licence is broken – for example, fishing outside authorised hours or landing catches at the wrong port – the master, the owner and any charterer of the boat are each liable for a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, the exact limits being set in later sections of the Act.
Director or partner liable when company breaches a fisheries offence
Unlimited fineIf your company or Scottish partnership commits a fisheries offence (as set out in sections 12, 14, 16 or Schedule 3), any director, manager, secretary or similar officer who consented, connived, or was negligent is also guilty of the offence. The officer can be prosecuted and punished just like the company itself.
Use a foreign fishing boat in UK waters without a valid licence
Unlimited fineIf you are the master, owner or charterer of a foreign fishing vessel and you let the boat enter UK fishing limits without a sea‑fishing licence or another recognised international purpose, you commit a criminal offence. The boat must leave the UK waters as soon as the unauthorised purpose is finished, and each responsible party can be prosecuted.
Penalties for non-compliance
4 penalties under this legislation. 4 carry an unlimited fine.
Breach of sea‑fishing licence condition
Unlimited fine
Director or partner liable when company breaches a fisheries offence
Unlimited fine
Breach fisheries licence conditions
Unlimited fine
Use a foreign fishing boat in UK waters without a valid licence
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
66 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 7
- s.2 Joint fisheries statement The fisheries policy authorities
- s.4 Secretary of State fisheries statement The Secretary of State
- s.6 Fisheries management plans: duty to comply with proposals in JFS stock of sea fish
- s.24 Duties relating to a determination of fishing opportunities
- s.25 Distribution of fishing opportunities
- s.26 Duties to ensure fishing opportunities not exceeded
- s.41 Procedural requirements for regulations under section 36 or 38
Offences and penalties 6
Powers 16
- Schedule 5 Sale of Welsh fishing opportunities
- s.5 Secretary of State fisheries statement: procedure
- Schedule 7 Imposition of charges: powers of devolved authorities
- s.9 Fisheries management plans: transitional provision
- s.15 Power to grant licences in respect of British fishing boats
- s.17 Power to grant licences in respect of foreign fishing boats
- s.27 Sale of English fishing opportunities
- s.28 Discard prevention charging schemes
- s.30 Catches subject to a charge ignored for certain regulatory purposes
- s.31 Charge collectors
- s.33 Financial assistance: powers of Secretary of State
- s.34 Charges: powers of Marine Management Organisation
- s.36 Power to make provision about fisheries, aquaculture etc
- s.38 Power to make provision about aquatic animal diseases
- s.43 Agency arrangements between sea fish licensing authorities
- s.54 Commencement
Definitions 15
- s.1 Fisheries objectives ecosystem-based approach precautionary approach to fisheries management
- s.3 Joint fisheries statement: procedure
- s.7 Fisheries management plans: power to depart from proposals in JFS
- Schedule 8 Powers to make further provision: devolved authorities A conservation purpose A fish industry purpose regional fisheries management regulations
- s.8 Fisheries management plans: procedure
- s.10 Effect of fisheries statements and fisheries management plans national fisheries authority
- s.11 Reports on fisheries statements and fisheries management plans
- s.18 Further provision about licences sea fishing licence
- s.23 Power of Secretary of State to determine fishing opportunities catch quota effort quota
- s.29 Meaning of “chargeable person” and “unauthorised catch of sea fish” chargeable person unauthorised catch of sea fish the charging scheme provisions
- s.32 Discard prevention charging schemes: supplementary provision conservation purpose
- s.37 Section 36: interpretation regional fisheries management agreement regional fisheries management organisation sea fishing equipment
- s.44 Foreign fishing boats that are exclusively Faroe Islands-regulated the Special Area the Faroe Islands Treaty
- s.52 Interpretation aquaculture aquaculture activities aquaculture organism
- Schedule 1 Fisheries statements and management plans: preparation and publication the relevant document interested persons the appropriate legislature