Fishing vessel licence types
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-08)

Information on the different types of commercial fishing vessel licences.

Category A

There are different types of Category A licence to allow fisheries to be managed suitably:
- over 10 metres – authorises vessels to fish for all available quota stocks, and up to a restricted tonnage level for combined pelagic stocks
- 10 metres and under – authorises vessels to fish for all available quota stocks
- Island vessels – authorises Jersey-registered vessels to fish for all stocks in Area 7
- pelagic – issued to pelagic trawlers, pelagic pursers and pelagic freezers and authorises vessels to fish for all available quota stocks and to fish without restriction for pelagic stocks
Category A (Limited)

This authorised 10 metre and under vessels to fish up to an annual limit of 350kg of quota species.

The 350kg licence cap was permanently removed with effect from 1 January 2025. All Category A (Limited) licences have changed to Category A (10 metre and under) licences.

Category B

This authorises over 10 metre vessels to fish for a restricted range of quota stocks, and up to a restricted tonnage level for combined pelagic stocks.

Category C

This authorises over 10 metre vessels to fish for a range of miscellaneous stocks, and up to a restricted tonnage level for combined pelagic stocks.

Minor pelagic fishery

A separate licence is issued for the Thames and Blackwater herring fishery because of the special access arrangements that apply.

Blue whiting

A separate licence is issued for this fishery to vessels holding pelagic licences. Issue of a licence involves surrender of the vessel’s main domestic licence.

Albacore tuna

Restricted licensing arrangements apply. Please contact the UK Single Issuing Authority (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-single-issuing-authority-uksia) for more information.

Bluefin tuna

Restricted licensing arrangements apply. Please contact the UK Single Issuing Authority (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-single-issuing-authority-uksia) for more information.

Mussel seed

Only available to registered vessels designed to dredge seed mussel for harvesting and deposit on registered shellfish farms with either the MMO or the Welsh Government. A licence will only be issued subject to scientific advice that the dredging operation would not be incompatible with wider environmental considerations. Your application must be for a registered vessel designed to dredge seed mussel.

External waters

Licences for fishing opportunities outside the UK EEZ – please contact the UK Single Issuing Authority (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-single-issuing-authority-uksia) for more information.

Deep sea species

This is a licence to permit vessels to land and retain onboard more than 100kg of deep sea species each trip. No new licences are issued. Existing licences can be transferred subject to normal licensing rules. A domestic fishing vessel licence is required.

Permit Types

Shellfish (Over 10 metre and 10 metre & under)

A shellfish permit allows you to fish for shellfish.

Where vessels do not hold a shellfish permit or hold a suspended shellfish permit, they are permitted using pots, nets or towed gear only to retain on board and land:

(i) up to 5 lobsters or crawfish per day, caught with pots or nets only; and

(ii) up to 25 crabs per day, caught with pots or nets only; or

(iii) any shellfish, excluding green crabs, taken as a permitted bycatch when fishing for other species using towed gear, up to a maximum limit of 10% by weight, of the total catch.

Scallop (Over 10 metre only)

A scallop permit allows the use of mechanical dredging gear towed by over 10 metre vessels fishing for king scallops.

Beam Trawl Area 4 (Over 10 metre Categories A & B only)

A beam trawl area 4 permit allows the fishing by beam trawl method of whitefish in the North Sea.

Beam Trawl Area 7 (Over 10 metre only)

A beam trawl area 7 permit allows the fishing by beam trawl method of Anglerfish 7, Sole 7adefg, Plaice 7defg and Saithe 7.