Fishing - Scottish Economic Link licence condition: guidance

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.