Collection

Fisheries management plans

Fisheries management plans (FMPs) set out the plans and policies to secure the long-term sustainability of UK fish stocks.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, The Scottish Government, Marine Management Organisation and Seafish
Published
17 July 2023
Last updated
16 December 2024 — See all updates

Fisheries management plans (FMPs) are evidence-based action plans, developed in collaboration with the fishing sector and other stakeholders. Their purpose is to deliver sustainable fisheries for current and future generations.

Published FMPs

Six FMPs have now been published.

FMP consultations

All fisheries management plans (FMPs) will go through a public consultation, giving interested parties the opportunity to give their views.

Consultations on the next 5 FMPs opened in October 2024.

FMP policy

The Fisheries Act 2020 requires the UK fisheries policy authorities (Defra, and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) to publish fisheries management plans (FMPs) to help deliver our ambition for sustainable fisheries.

This paper sets out how Defra will prepare and publish its FMPs for the waters around England.

Joint Fisheries Statement

The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) sets out the policies for achieving the fisheries objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020.

It enables the UK fisheries policy authorities (Defra, and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) to develop fisheries management plans (FMPs) to help deliver sustainable fisheries.

Environmental assessments and evidence

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) evaluates the potential positive and negative environmental effects of the policies proposed in an FMP. For each FMP, an environmental report sets out the findings of the SEA.

Evidence statements set out what is known about stocks covered in FMPs. Read FMP evidence statements on Defra’s Science Search website.

Privacy notice

How Defra will use personal information submitted as part of the FMP programme.

Updates to this page

Published 17 July 2023
Last updated 16 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added a link to fisheries management plan (FMP) evidence statements.

  2. Added links to the Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish fisheries management plan (FMP) and strategic environmental assessment environmental report. Added links to consultations on the next 5 FMPs and on proposed amendments to Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement.

  3. Added 2 links to the list 'Environmental assessments and evidence'.

  4. Added the Defra privacy notice for fisheries management plans.

  5. Added links to 5 FMPs in development.

  6. Added links to the strategic environmental assessment environmental reports for the following fisheries management plans (FMPs): - bass - Channel demersal non-quota species - crab and lobster - king scallop - whelk

  7. Added links to the first 5 fisheries management plans (FMPs), which have now been published: - Bass FMP - Channel demersal non-quota species FMP - Crab and lobster FMP - King scallop FMP - Whelk FMP

  8. First published.

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