UK government rolls out new fisheries management plans to protect fish stocks

Mace | 17th December 2025 | Politics
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Government publishes five new Fisheries Management Plans aimed at safeguarding key stocks and underpinning sustainable UK fishing practices.

The UK Government has published five new Fisheries Management Plans designed to safeguard valuable fish stocks and support sustainable fisheries, releasing the final documents on 16 December 2025 after a period of public consultation. The plans cover North Sea and Channel sprat, cockle, queen scallop, Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays, and Southern North Sea demersal non quota species, with policies and actions tailored to the biological characteristics and fishing patterns of those stocks. These plans aim to maintain or restore stocks to sustainable levels while supporting the marine environment and coastal economies that depend on fishing activities. Fisheries Management Plans, prepared under the Fisheries Act 2020 and guided by the Joint Fisheries Statement, set out evidence based policies to restore or maintain fish stocks at levels consistent with sustainable exploitation, incorporating scientific advice and stakeholder engagement. The new documents are part of a prog...

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