Scottish Ministers have made the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2026 (SSI 2026/10). The instrument was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 January 2026 and takes effect on 14 February 2026, setting a multi‑year closure regime in defined areas of the Firth of Clyde until 13 February 2029.
The Order applies only to a “British fishing boat”, meaning a vessel registered in the United Kingdom under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 or wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships under that Act. This definition mirrors earlier Clyde closure instruments and is familiar to operators working under the 2024 Order. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/6/body/made?utm_source=openai))
Geographically, three zones are defined by coordinates in the Schedule: Area A (three boundary lines), Area B (six) and Area C (fourteen). Article 3 sets the baseline: fishing for sea fish by any method by any British fishing boat is prohibited in Area A until the end of 13 February 2029. The coordinates follow WGS84 and an illustrative map accompanies the instrument.
Article 4 provides targeted exemptions. A “relevant British fishing boat” may fish anywhere in Area A that is outside Areas B and C at any time. The same qualifying vessels may fish inside Areas B and C only between 1 May and 13 February each year, namely 1 May 2026–13 February 2027, 1 May 2027–13 February 2028, and 1 May 2028–13 February 2029. Research activity authorised by Scottish Ministers is also exempt.
To qualify as a “relevant British fishing boat”, a vessel must have fished for sea fish in Area A and landed any quantity of sea fish on at least one occasion between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025. In practice, operators should be ready to evidence eligibility with logbook entries and sales notes covering that period, including positions and landings data.
The Order revokes the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024. That earlier instrument introduced a complete seasonal prohibition in two mapped areas each year from 14 February to 30 April, without exemptions. The 2026 instrument supersedes that approach with a multi‑year regime and a defined class of qualifying vessels. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/6/body/made?utm_source=openai))
Separate restrictions continue to apply in parts of the same waters under the South Arran Marine Conservation Order 2015. Masters should plan on complying with whichever measure is stricter at any given location, noting the conservation order imposes specific gear and activity limits within the South Arran Nature Conservation MPA. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/437/made?utm_source=openai))
Contravention constitutes an offence under section 5 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967. Penalties under section 11 include, on summary conviction, a fine up to £50,000; on indictment, an unlimited fine. Courts may order forfeiture of fish and gear, and where forfeiture of fish is not ordered on summary conviction, an additional fine up to the value of the fish. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/6/made?utm_source=openai))
For compliance, skippers should plot the new coordinates for Areas A–C, retain evidence demonstrating “relevant” status for inspection, and check any overlap with the South Arran MPA. The Marine Directorate has previously set out an enforcement and monitoring approach for the Clyde seasonal closures, including patrols and catch monitoring under Operation Galene. ([gov.scot](https://www.gov.scot/publications/sea-fish-firth-of-clyde-seasonal-closures-operation-galene/?utm_source=openai))
Contextually, the Clyde spawning‑season closures have been in place since 2002 to protect cod, with scope and exemptions adjusted over time. The 2024 Order continued the closure without exemptions for 2024 and 2025. The Government has published analysis and impact materials ahead of the 2026 arrangements, including a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment. ([gov.scot](https://www.gov.scot/publications/report-2024-clyde-cod-closure/?utm_source=openai))