Statutory guidance

Bass industry guidance 2026

Information on the rules, regulations and restrictions for bass fishing from 1 January 2026,

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Published: 27 December 2024
• Last updated: 27 February 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 27 February 2026

     The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026 link added.

  2. 27 February 2026

     Friday 27 February 2026 update.

  3. 31 December 2025

     Update 31/12

  4. 30 December 2025

     Updated 30/12

  5. 10 October 2025

     Update 10/10

  6. 8 August 2025

     Update 08/08/25

  7. 2 June 2025

     Update 2.3

  8. 27 December 2024

     First published.

Documents

Bass Fishing Guidance

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Details

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 amended the Bass Measures as per Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123

This means that annual landings limits for permitted gear types will be set by the fishing vessel licence rather than a statutory instrument.

The bass control measures implement measures designed to manage fishing effort to help protect and improve bass stocks.

Bass limits for 2026

Bass authorisations letters have been re-issued effective as of 16 December 2024.

• Guidance on the landing obligation
• Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123
• Bass fishing guidance 2026
• The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2021
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2023
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024
• Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU for 2026
• The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026