11 Proposed Joint UK Fisheries Management Plans for Demersal Fish Stocks

Closes 11 Mar 2026

Opened 20 Nov 2025

Contact

Fisheries Management Plans

FMPs@gov.scot

Overview

The purpose of this consultation is to seek your views on the proposed 11 joint UK fisheries management plans (FMPs) for demersal fish stocks, their policies and proposed actions.

FMPs are documents prepared and published under the Fisheries Act 2020 and they set out policies and actions for the demersal fisheries designed to restore or maintain relevant stocks of seafish at sustainable levels. They are evidence-based action plans that support delivery of sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. 

The UK fisheries authorities (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland) will prepare and publish 43 Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) by 2028. The Scottish Government is the coordinating authority for 21 FMPs with a delivery date of end of 2026. Of the 21 FMPs, 11 are for demersal fish stocks.

We want to know what you think about the policies and actions set out in the following proposed 11 joint UK fisheries management plans (FMPs) for demersal fish stocks:

  • North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Haddock FMP, hereafter referred to as ‘Northern Shelf’ Haddock FMP
  • Atlantic (Rockall) haddock FMP
  • North Sea and Eastern Channel Whiting FMP
  • West Coast of Scotland Whiting FMP
  • North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Monk/Anglerfish FMP, hereafter referred to as ‘Northern Shelf Anglerfish FMP’
  • North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Megrim FMP, hereafter referred to as ‘Northern Shelf Megrim FMP’
  • North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Saithe FMP
  • Northern Shelf Hake
  • Northern Shelf Ling FMP
  • Atlantic (Rockall) Cod FMP
  • Northern Shelf Cod FMP

We are also seeking views on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which describes the likely environmental impacts of these FMPs, and on the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) which describes the anticipated economic impact of the FMPs on the fishing sector and associated businesses.

Additional documents that support this consultation can be found in the ‘Related’ section at the bottom of this page. These include the Nature Conservation Advice from NatureScot and JNCC: Demersal FMPs and the Statutory Conservation Advice for English waters. Please note that we are not inviting feedback on these documents.

The Welsh versions of the consultation document and the proposed Northern Shelf Hake Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), are also available below.

This consultation closes at 23:59 on 11 March 2026.

Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. Please read the consultation document and the relevant associated documents before responding to this consultation.

Ymgynghoriad ar 11 Cynllun Rheoli Pysgodfeydd Ar y Cyd Arfaethedig y Deyrnas Unedig ar gyfer Stociau Pysgod Gwely’r Môr

Trosolwg

Diben yr ymgynghoriad hwn yw ceisio eich safbwyntiau ar 11 cynllun rheoli pysgodfeydd (FMP) ar y cyd arfaethedig y Deyrnas Unedig ar gyfer stociau pysgod gwely’r môr, eu polisïau a’u camau gweithredu arfaethedig. Rydym hefyd yn ceisio eich safbwyntiau ar yr adroddiad amgylcheddol a’r asesiad effaith busnes a rheoleiddiol. 
Bydd yr ymgynghoriad hwn yn cau am 23:59 ar 11 Mawrth 2026.

Disgrifiad o’r ymgynghoriad

Rydym eisiau cael eich barn am y polisïau a’r camau gweithredu a amlinellir yn yr 11 cynllun rheoli pysgodfeydd (FMP) ar y cyd arfaethedig canlynol ar gyfer stociau pysgod gwely’r môr y Deyrnas Unedig:

  • FMP Hadog Môr y Gogledd ac Arfordir Gorllewin yr Alban, y cyfeirir ato o hyn ymlaen fel FMP Hadog ‘Ysgafell y Gogledd’
  • FMP Hadog Iwerydd
  • FMP Gwyniad Môr y Gogledd a Dwyrain y Sianel
  • FMP Gwyniad Môr Arfordir Gorllewin yr Alban
  • FMP Cythraul Môr y Gogledd ac Arfordir Gorllewin yr Alban, y cyfeirir ato o hyn ymlaen fel ‘FMP Cythraul y Môr Ysgafell y Gogledd’
  • FMP Lleden Fair Môr y Gogledd ac Arfordir Gorllewin yr Alban, y cyfeirir ato o hyn ymlaen fel ‘FMP Lleden Fair Ysgafell y Gogledd’
  • FMP Chwitlyn Glas Môr y Gogledd ac Arfordir Gorllewin yr Alban
  • FMP Cegddu Ysgafell y Gogledd
  • FMP Honos Ysgafell y Gogledd
  • FMP Penfras Iwerydd
  • FMP Penfras Ysgafell y Gogledd

Mae’r FMPau arfaethedig wedi cael eu datblygu ar y cyd gan Lywodraeth yr Alban, Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig (Defra), yr Adran Amaethyddiaeth, yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig (DAERA) a Llywodraeth Cymru.

Mae’r FMPau hyn yn amlinellu cynlluniau ar gyfer rheoli stociau gwely’r môr yn nyfroedd y Deyrnas Unedig mewn ffordd gynaliadwy yn y tymor hir. Mae’r FMPau hyn yn amlinellu polisïau ar gyfer y pysgodfeydd gwely’r môr, a chamau gweithredu tymor byr, tymor canolig a thymor hir i’w cyflawni. 

Rydym hefyd yn ceisio safbwyntiau ar yr Asesiad Amgylcheddol Strategol (SEA), sy’n disgrifio effeithiau tebygol yr FMPau hyn ar yr amgylchedd, a’r Asesiad Effaith Busnes a Rheoleiddiol (BRIA), sy’n disgrifio effaith economaidd ddisgwyliedig yr FMPau ar y sector pysgota a busnesau cysylltiedig.

Mae dogfennau ychwanegol sy’n ategu’r ymgynghoriad hwn ar gael yn yr adran ‘Cysylltiedig’ ar waelod y dudalen hon. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys y Cyngor Cadwraeth Natur gan NatureScot a’r Cyd-bwyllgor Cadwraeth Natur (JNCC): FMPau Gwely’r Môr a’r Cyngor Cadwraeth Statudol ar gyfer Dyfroedd Lloegr. Sylwch nad ydym yn gwahodd adborth ar y dogfennau hyn.

Mae fersiynau Cymraeg y ddogfen ymgynghori a’r Cynllun Rheoli Pysgodfeydd (FMP) arfaethedig ar gyfer Cegddu Ysgafell y Gogledd, ar gael isod hefyd.

Beth fydd yn digwydd nesaf

Bydd Llywodraeth yr Alban yn treulio amser yn adolygu a dadansoddi’r ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad hwn. Cyhoeddir crynodeb o’r ymatebion ac ymateb y llywodraeth ar wefan Llywodraeth yr Alban maes o law.

Darllenwch y papur ymgynghori. Mae’r papur ymgynghori’n cynnwys gwybodaeth gefndir lawn ar gyfer yr ymgynghoriad hwn. Darllenwch y ddogfen ymgynghori a’r dogfennau cysylltiedig perthnasol cyn ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad hwn.

Consultation questions preview

The consultation questions are included here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.

Question 1. For the Northern Shelf Haddock FMP, do you agree that we listed the right policies?

Question 2. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Haddock FMP?

Question 3. For the Atlantic (Rockall) Haddock FMP, do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 4. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Atlantic (Rockall) Haddock FMP?

Question 5. For the North Sea and Eastern Channel Whiting FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 6. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the North Sea and Eastern Channel Whiting FMP?

Question 7. For the West Coast of Scotland Whiting FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 8. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the West Coast of Scotland Whiting FMP?

Question 9. For the Northern Shelf Monk/Anglerfish FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 10. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Monk/Anglerfish FMP?

Question 11. For the Northern Shelf Megrim FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 12. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Megrim FMP?

Question 13. For the North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Saithe FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 14. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the West Coast of Scotland Saithe FMP?

Question 15. For the Northern Shelf Hake FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 16. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Hake FMP?

Question 17. For the Northern Shelf Ling FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 18. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Ling FMP?

Question 19. For the Atlantic (Rockall) Cod FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 20. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Atlantic (Rockall) Cod FMP?

Question 21. For the Northern Shelf Cod FMP do you agree that we listed all the right policies?

Question 22. What are your views on the actions proposed for each policy in the Northern Shelf Cod FMP?

Question 23. In addition to commenting on the Northern Shelf Cod FMP, one of the actions in the FMP is to review the current technical measures, including those contained within the current UK National North Sea Cod Avoidance Plan (NCAP), contained at Annex A of the FMP.  Please share any comments you have in relation to this.

Question 24. Do you have any comments on the specific sections in any of the draft FMPs? For example, on the:

  • Stock Assessment and MSY section which provides information on available stock assessments, maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and stock biology for the individual stocks covered by the demersal FMPs.
     
  • Fisheries Management section which outlines proposals to maintain the sustainable management of demersal fisheries in UK waters for the long-term. It also covers the current technical measures, as well as monitoring, control and enforcement.
     
  • Environmental Considerations section which covers the legal duties and requirements relating to the protection of the natural environment arising from legislation. It provides details of the conservation advice developed by the SNCBS which describes the risks arising from the demersal fisheries contained within the 11 demersal FMPs.
     
  • Implementation and Monitoring section which describes the process for implementation and that delivery of the policies and actions in the demersal FMPs will be monitored and assessed against a set of indicators to ensure the overarching outcomes and actions are effective in achieving the FMP goals and the requirements of the Act.

Question 25. Do you have any additional data or evidence for the individual stocks which are classed as data deficient?

Question 26. Do you have any other additional comments on the 11 proposed demersal FMPs?

Question 27. Do you have any comments on the partial Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)?

Question 28. Do you have any comments on the assessment of the environmental effects of the 11 draft demersal FMPs, as set out in the environmental report?

Question 29. Do you have any comments on any potential islands impacts arising from the draft FMPs?

Useful information about responding to this consultation

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

All relevant submitted responses will be analysed. This may be carried out by third party organisations who Scottish Government, its executive agencies or non-ministerial offices, contract to do this work. Such data sharing will be governed by appropriate contractual arrangements to keep your data secure.

An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us.

You can also join our consultation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).

Why your views matter

This consultation is an opportunity for you to help shape and influence the future of demersal fisheries management policy in UK and builds upon previous engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK.

Mae’r ymgynghoriad hwn yn gyfle i chi helpu i ffurfio a dylanwadu ar ddyfodol polisi rheoli pysgodfeydd gwely’r môr yn y Deyrnas Unedig ac mae’n ychwanegu at ymgysylltiad blaenorol ag ystod eang o randdeiliaid ledled y Deyrnas Unedig.

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Interests

  • Main hub
  • Marine and Fisheries