A consultation on a seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery in ICES area 7 (English waters) 2025 - 2026
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-18)

MMO has opened a consultation for a potential seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery during winter 2025 to spring 2026. The consultation is open until midnight on 20 July 2025.

Background

In 2023 and 2024 MMO worked with industry to address concerns regarding the southwest crawfish fishery (Palinurus spp). Following stakeholder engagement events and consultations the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) was increased from 95 millimetres (mm) to 110 mm on 1 January 2024. The increased MCRS was then placed into regulation The Sea fisheries (Amendment) (No 2) 2024 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1028/regulation/1/made) and the 110 mm MCRS for crawfish was adopted for all English waters.

There have been three consultations for crawfish seasonal closures. All consultations received support for a seasonal closure. The first closure was from 5 February 2024 to 30 April 2024, the second seasonal closure was from 16 December 2024 to 31 May 2025. Details for the latest consultation are in the section below.

2025 Consultation

MMO ran a consultation to seek views on a further seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery for 2025/2026. This consultation ran from 5 June 2025 to 20 July 2025.

The rationale for the closure is to:

provide additional protection and spawning potential by decreasing the number of removals and interactions with fishing activities.

improve spawning potential by increasing the likelihood that crawfish can spawn and moult before interacting with fishing activity.

improve the subsequent recruitment of juveniles into the fishery by protecting berried females for a specified period and allowing for settlement of juvenile stock.

decrease the fishing activity and removals when fish are in a poor condition and more likely to suffer from high rates of mortality.

reduce the risk of nets being left for long soak times or lost during unpredictable winter weather.

MMO proposed the following potential closure options for consideration:

no closure.

from 19 December 2025 to 31 May 2026.

The consultation gave respondents the opportunity to suggest a different closure period. MMO also asked for suggestions for technical measures (other than effort management) that could be explored for future management t.

Having considered the consultation responses, scientific and environmental evidence, socio-economics and relevant legislation and policy MMO will introduce a closure of the crawfish fishery for all UK and EU vessels in ICES area 7 (English waters) from 17 November 2025 to 31 May 2026 (inclusive).

Further information on the consultation, a summary of responses received and reasoning behind the decision is available in the 2025/2026 decision document below.

What happens next?

The closure will be enacted by a fishing vessel licence variation. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-vessel-licence-variations) The variation will prohibit vessels fishing, retaining on board, storing or landing crawfish during the closure period.

Contact us

If you have any questions or queries, then please email or call our helpline using the details provided below:

E mail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

MMO helpline: xx-xxxx-xxxx