News story
ACT NOW ON EU REGULATORY CHANGE
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published advice to support UK fishermen in complying with regulation changes in EU waters.
These changes came into force on 10 January 2026 and affect:
- how nets, pots and lines are marked
- electronic logbook reporting
- Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) reporting
These rules only apply in the waters of EU Member States. They are part of EU law, and so enforcement will be carried out by EU countries and not MMO.
MMO and Defra are continuing to work with the European Commission and EU Member States to clarify how the rules will be applied and enforced.
Fishermen who work in EU waters should read the information here that explains what is now required and advises what they should do to reduce risk of non-compliance.