https://defrafmp.blog.gov.uk/fmp-directory/
FMP directory
Defra is delivering the following 15 FMPs. Find quick links to relevant information on this page.
FMPs are listed A-Z. Click on the title to jump straight to that FMP.
- Bass FMP
- Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal FMP
- Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic FMP
- Channel demersal non-quota species FMP
- Cockle FMP
- Crab and lobster FMP
- King scallop FMP
- North Sea and Channel sprat FMP
- Queen scallop FMP
- Seabream FMP
- Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays FMP
- Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP
- Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species FMP
- Whelk FMP
- Wrasses complex FMP
Bass FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stock: Bass.
ICES areas: English and Welsh waters (4b, 4c, 6a, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: Bass fisheries management plan (FMP) - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Bass FMP on the FMP blog.
- Bass Management Group
- Finfish Advisory Group (FIAG)
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Recreational Sea Fishing Forum (contact recreational-seafishing@defra.gov.uk)
- Email Defra's bass policy team at BassFMP@defra.gov.uk
Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being prepared for public consultation.
Stocks: Monkfish/anglerfish, cod, haddock, plaice, thornback ray, sole, blue ling, deep water sharks, saithe, small eyed ray, round nose grenadier, red seabream, skates and rays, shagreen ray, blonde ray, sandy ray, spotted ray, cuckoo ray, megrim, four- spotted megrim, pollock, nephrops and whiting.
ICES areas: Celtic Sea and Western Channel (7e, 7f, 7g, 7h: Welsh and English waters only).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2026.
Supporting information:
- Fisheries management plans: policy information - GOV.UK
- Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal FMP development - GOV.UK
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal FMP on the FMP blog. The public consultation will be announced on the FMP blog so subscribe to get email notifications about new posts.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being prepared for public consultation.
Stocks: Herring, pilchard, greater silver smelt, horse mackerel, anchovy.
ICES areas: Celtic Sea and Western Channel (7e, 7f, 7g, 7h Welsh and English waters only).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2026.
Supporting information:
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic FMP on the FMP blog. The public consultation will be announced on the FMP blog so subscribe to get email notifications about new posts.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Channel demersal non-quota species FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stocks: Red gurnards, tub gurnards, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, John Dory, surmullet, lesser spotted dogfish, grey gurnards, Lemon sole, brill, smoothhound, bib and turbot.
ICES areas: Channel (7d, 7e).
Policy: Channel demersal non-quota species fisheries management plan (FMP) - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Engage with this FMP through:
- Channel demersal non-quota species FMP on the FMP blog.
- Finfish Advisory Group (FIAG)
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Cockle FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being updated following a public consultation. It will then be published and implemented.
Stock: Cockles.
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2025.
Supporting information:
- Consultation: Cockle: proposed fisheries management plan consultation - GOV.UK (closed 19 January 2025).
- Environmental assessment: final version to be published with the policy. See consultation documents for draft.
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Cockle FMP on the FMP blog.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the shellfish policy team at shellfish@defra.gov.uk
Crab and lobster FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stocks: Crabs and lobsters.
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: Crab and lobster fisheries management plan (FMP) for English waters - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Crab and lobster FMP on the FMP blog.
- Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG) and sub-group Crab and Lobster Management Group
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the shellfish policy team at shellfish@defra.gov.uk
King scallop FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stocks: King scallops (Pecten maximus).
ICES areas: English and Welsh waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: King scallop fisheries management plan (FMP) - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- King scallop FMP on the FMP blog.
- King Scallop Implementation Group (KSIG)
- Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG)
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the shellfish policy team at shellfish@defra.gov.uk
North Sea and Channel sprat FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being updated following a public consultation. It will then be published and implemented.
Stock: Sprat.
ICES areas: North Sea and Channel (4, 7d, 7e).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2025.
Supporting information:
- North Sea and Channel sprat: proposed fisheries management plan consultation - GOV.UK (closed 19 January 2025).
- Environmental assessment: final version to be published with the policy. See consultation documents for draft.
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- North Sea and Channel sprat FMP on the FMP blog.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Queen scallop FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being updated following a public consultation. It will then be published and implemented.
Stock: Queen scallop.
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2025.
Supporting information:
- Queen scallop: proposed fisheries management plan consultation - GOV.UK (closed 19 January 2025).
- Environmental assessment: final version to be published with the policy. See consultation documents for draft.
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Queen scallop FMP on the FMP blog.
- Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG)
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the shellfish policy team at shellfish@defra.gov.uk
Seabream FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being prepared for public consultation.
Stocks: Black seabream and gilthead seabream.
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2026.
Supporting information:
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Seabream FMP on the FMP blog. The public consultation will be announced on the FMP blog so subscribe to get email notifications about new posts.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being updated following a public consultation. It will then be published and implemented.
Stock: Thornback ray, blonde ray, undulate ray, skates and rays, small-eyed ray, spotted ray, cuckoo ray and starry ray.
ICES areas: Southern North Sea and Channel (subarea 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e – English waters only)
Policy: To be published by the end of 2025.
Supporting information:
- Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays: proposed fisheries management plan consultation - GOV.UK (closed 19 January 2025).
- Environmental assessment: final version to be published with the policy. See consultation documents for draft.
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays FMP on the FMP blog.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stocks: Plaice, sole, turbot, witch, brill, lemon sole, sole, dab, flounder and halibut.
ICES areas: Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel (4b, 4c, 7d).
Policy: Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish fisheries management plan (FMP) - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP on the FMP blog.
- Finfish Advisory Group (FIAG)
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being updated following a public consultation. It will then be published and implemented.
Stock: Red gurnards, tub gurnards, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, John Dory, surmullet, lesser spotted dogfish, grey gurnards and smoothhound.
ICES areas: Southern North Sea (4b, 4c: English waters only).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2025.
Supporting information:
- Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species: proposed fisheries management plan consultation - GOV.UK (closed 19 January 2025).
- Environmental assessment: final version to be published with the policy. See consultation documents for draft.
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Southern North Sea demersal non-quota FMP on the FMP blog.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
Whelk FMP
Status: Being implemented (Published December 2023).
Stocks: Whelks.
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: Whelk fisheries management plan (FMP) for English waters - GOV.UK
Supporting information:
- Environmental assessment and evidence
- Evidence statement and Evidence gaps
- Harvest standard specification (HSS)
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Whelk FMP on the FMP blog.
- Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG) and sub-group Whelk Management Group
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the shellfish policy team at shellfish@defra.gov.uk
Wrasses complex FMP
Status: The draft FMP is being prepared for public consultation.
Stocks: Goldsinny wrasse, ballan wrasse, wrasse species complex, corkwing wrasse, rock cook and cuckoo wrasse
ICES areas: English waters (4b, 4c, 7a, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j).
Policy: To be published by the end of 2026.
Supporting information:
Keep updated and engage with this FMP:
- Wrasses complex FMP on the FMP blog. The public consultation will be announced on the FMP blog so subscribe to get email notifications about new posts.
- Regional Fisheries Groups (inshore fishing sector)
- Email the FMP policy team at FMPs@defra.gov.uk
For more information on all FMPs visit Fisheries management plans - GOV.UK
This 'collection' page contains information on:
- Published FMPs- links to each of the policy pages
- FMP consultations- links to the consultations (open or closed)
- FMP policy- main policy page which explains how Defra will prepare and publish its' FMPs.
- List of proposed FMPs- the full list of 43 FMPs being developed by Defra, DAERA, Scottish and Welsh governments.
- Joint Fisheries Statement- sets out the policies for achieving the fisheries objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020.
- Environmental assessments and evidence- assessments evaluate the environmental effects of the policies proposed in each FMP and evidence statements set out what is known about each FMP stock.
- Privacy notice- How Defra will use personal information submitted as part of the FMP programme