Fishing - Scottish Economic Link licence condition: guidance

Information about the amended Scottish Economic Link licence condition (effective from 1 January 2023).


The Scottish Government has strengthened the economic link licence condition so that it delivers more benefits to Scotland and its fisheries-dependent areas.

The licence condition will cover the eight most important species, by landed value, into Scotland. These are herring, mackerel, nephrops, haddock, anglerfish, cod, hake and whiting (“the 8 key species”) and these account for 90% of the value of total landings by Scottish vessels of species managed by Total Aallowable Catch.

2023

From 1 January 2023 all Scottish administered vessels over 10m in length which landed over 10 tonnes of the noted species must meet either of the following obligations:

1. a) Land more than 55% of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, anglerfish & nephrops in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

1. b) Land more than 30%, of herring and mackerel in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

2. Return quota in the following calendar year equivalent to 26% of the lost value to Scotland.

Vessels not meeting the minimum landing requirements to fulfil the Economic Link licence condition in 2023

A10105 NORTHERN STAR
A10184 PROVIDER
A10188 CHARMEL
A11754 ACIONNA
A13160 TAHUME
A16740 ESPEMAR DOS
B11132 WAKEFUL
B13488 ANNEGINA
B13827 ALBION
C17307 SPARKLING STAR IV
C17805 QUO VADIS
C19630 PATRICIA MARTA
C20043 MIKKEL LOUISE
C20104 ISLA S
C20259 NEREUS
C20969 HENK SENIOR
C21237 NEELTJE
C21269 GOOD HOPE

Aggregated quotas recovered in 2024 from vessels not meeting the minimum landing requirements to fulfil the Economic Link licence condition in 2023

Stock Quota recovered (tonnes)
NS cod 29.6
NS haddock 13.2
NS nephrops 27.9
NS plaice 10.8
NS skate and rays 11.8
NS whiting 17.6
NS witch 2

2024

From 1 January 2024 all Scottish administered vessels over 10m in length which landed over 10 tonnes of the noted species must meet either of the following obligations:

1. a) Land more than 55% of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, anglerfish & nephrops in the period 1 January - 31 December 2024 into a Scottish port.

1. b) Land more than 40%, of herring and mackerel in the period 1 January - 31 December 2024 into a Scottish port.

2. Return quota in the following calendar year equivalent to 26% of the lost value to Scotland.

A table of the vessels not meeting obligation 1(a) or 1(b) in 2024 and the quotas recovered is to be published after March 2025. This information will be updated as the process of quota recovery progresses.

2025 onwards

From 1 January 2025 all Scottish administered vessels over 10m in length which landed over 10 tonnes of the noted species must meet either of the following obligations:

1. Land more than 55% of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, anglerfish, nephrops, herring and mackerel in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

2. Return quota in the following calendar year equivalent to 26% of the lost value to Scotland.

A table of the vessels assessed as being non-compliant and the quotas recovered is to be published after March of the following calendar. This information will be updated as the process of quota recovery progresses in each year.

The policy will be kept under review and may be amended if required.

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