Manage your fishing effort
Details of how to manage your effort in the Cod Recovery Zone, Sole Recovery Zone and Western Waters.
As commercial fishermen you are responsible for managing your fishing effort to help improve the sustainability of different fish stocks.
The Marine Management Organisation manages fishing in particular sea areas and restricts the amount of fish that you can catch, how you catch the fish and how many days you can fish for.
Your vessel’s effort limit is calculated by multiplying its days at sea in relevant areas by the engine power to give a total of kilowatt (KW) days of effort.
The Marine Management Organisation follows all Defra statistical policies.
Cod in ICES area VIId
The cod scheme limits the number of days an eligible vessel can fish for cod with certain fishing gear in sea areas IV, VII and VI.
Sole Recovery Zone
The sole scheme limits the number of days an eligible vessel can fish for sole with certain fishing gear in Area VIIe.
Western Waters
Scallops
The scallop scheme limits the number of days an eligible over-15-metre vessel can fish for king (Pecten maximus) or queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) in Area VII.
Crabs
The crab scheme is led by the fishing industry to self-manage the fishery to get the most out of the fishery and minimise effort uptake in Area VII.