Fisheries Advisories

Each year we produce and distribute Commercial Fisheries Advisories in line with EU Council Regulations, funded by the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

These provide rapid access to the current legislative status of sharks, skates and rays in UK, EU and international waters. They are designed to assist the commercial fishing industry as well as fisheries management and enforcement agencies.

For 2020 we've produced 30 Commercial Fisheries Advisories (which can be downloaded below), along with best practice guides for handling and reporting sharks, skates and rays. You can also download our Shark, Skate and Ray ID Guides.

Legislation is correct as of February 2020, according to Council Regulation (EU) No. 2020/123 and Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1241. These regulations continue to apply to all UK registered vessels during the Transition Period ending 31st December 2020.

As TACs and quotas are met or altered, and legislation updated, some advisories may be subject to change. We'll issue updates as they arise. If you have any queries please contact us, or the Marine Management Organisation.

Additional Information:

► Recreational anglers should visit our Angling Project Page for Sea Angling Advisories on species restrictions, prohibitions and best practice guidelines.

► Fish markets and seafood retailers should also check CITES listings for latest trade regulations for sharks, skates and rays (e.g. as well as being a Prohibited species, Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) is also listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning permits are needed if importing).

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COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADVISORIES:

► Download the Commercial Fisheries Advisory Poster for 2020 (pdf)

SHARKS:

► Angelshark / Monkfish (pdf)

► Basking Shark (pdf)

► Blue Shark (pdf)

► Deepwater Sharks i of ii (pdf)

► Deepwater Sharks ii of ii (pdf)

► Hammerheads (pdf)

► Oceanic Whitetip Shark (pdf)

► Porbeagle Shark (pdf)

► Shortfin Mako (pdf)

► Silky Shark (pdf)

► Smooth Lanternshark (pdf)

► Spurdog / Spiny Dogfish (pdf)

► Thresher Sharks (pdf)

► Tope (pdf)

► White Shark (pdf)

► Atlantic & Global Sharks (pdf)

SKATES & RAYS:

► Black Skate (pdf)

► Blue Skate (pdf)

► Flapper Skate (pdf)

► Guitarfishes (pdf)

► Manta Rays (pdf)

► Mobula Rays (pdf)

► Sawfishes (pdf)

► Small-eyed Ray (pdf)

► Starry Skate (pdf)

► Thornback Ray (pdf)

► Undulate Ray (pdf)

► White Skate (pdf)

► Skate & Ray Reporting (pdf)

► Atlantic & Global Rays (pdf)

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BEST PRACTICE GUIDES:

► Shark Handling (pdf)

► Recording & Reporting Discards (pdf)

► Skate & Ray Handling (pdf)

► Best Practice for Sharks, Skates & Rays (pdf)

► Landings Obligations (pdf)

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NORTHERN ENGLAND RESOURCES:

As part of a historic project, funded by the Co-operative, we created the resources below. Helping to support sustainability in Northern English shark and ray fisheries.

► ID Guide to Sharks, Skates and Rays in Northern English Waters (pdf)

► Pocket Guide to Sustainable Shark, Skate and Ray Fisheries in Northern English Waters (pdf)

► Pocket Guide Poster outlining species prohibited or restricted to commercial vessels in Northern English waters (pdf)

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TRANSLATED COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADVISORIES

Our Commercial Fisheries Advisories are also available in French*, German, Spanish, Dutch and Greek

*Updates for 2020 are in progress.