A consultation on a seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery in ICES area 7 (English waters) 2025 - 2026
Consultation description
Background
In 2024, MMO worked with industry to address concerns for the crawfish fishery in the southwest. Stakeholder engagement events and consultations were held regarding seasonal closures of the fishery. The first closure took place between 05 February 2024 to 30 April 2024. The second closure took place between 16 December 2024 to 31 May 2025.
In December 2024 the licence condition for the increased minimum conservation reference size 바카라 사이트˜MCRS바카라 사이트™ (minimum landing size) of 110 millimetres (mm) was succeeded by a statutory instrument (SI). Â
Consultation
MMO has opened a consultation for a seasonal closure during winter 2025 to spring 2026. The consultation is open until midnight on 20 July 2025. Â
Proposed options for consideration in this consultation are:
- option 1: no closure.
- option 2: seasonal closure from 19 December 2025 to 31 May 2026 (inclusive)
The seasonal closure would mean a prohibition of retaining and landing crawfish (Palinurus spp) in English waters of ICES sub area 7, for all UK and EU vessels with all gear types.
The rationale for the closure is to:Â
- offer protection for breeding and spawning opportunities.
- reduce the risk of high mortality rates from catching fish that are in poor condition and from the potential of long net soak times or net loss in poor weather, and
- support future growth in the population by allowing settlement of juvenile stock.
What happens next?바카라 사이트¯Â
MMO will review all the information received during the consultation and will publish a summary of the responses and the decision on whether to close the crawfish fishery and when a closure might occur. Any closure will be enacted by a licence variation.
Further information on the previous closure consultations, a summary of responses received and reasoning behind the decision is available below.
Contact us
If you have any questions or queries, then please email or call our helpline using the details provided below:
Email:Â FMP@marinemanagement.org.uk
MMO helpline: 0300 123 1032