Scottish Ministers have made the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2026 (SSI 2026/10). The instrument was made on 14 January 2026, laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 January 2026, and will come into force on 14 February 2026. Using powers in sections 5 and 20 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967, it restricts fishing for sea fish by British fishing boats in a defined Firth of Clyde area until 13 February 2029, subject to specific exemptions.
Area A, and the nested Areas B and C, are delineated by boundary lines set out in the Schedule by latitude and longitude, supported by an illustrative map in the Explanatory Note. The Order applies only to British fishing boats-vessels registered in the United Kingdom under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 or wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships.
Article 3 establishes a general prohibition on fishing for sea fish by any method in Area A until the end of 13 February 2029. Article 4 then provides targeted exemptions for vessels with an established track record and for authorised scientific work.
A “relevant British fishing boat” is defined as a British fishing boat that has 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. Those vessels may continue to fish anywhere in Area A except within Areas B and C.
In Areas B and C, relevant British fishing boats may fish only during specified open periods. The Order opens B and C from 1 May 2026 to 13 February 2027, 1 May 2027 to 13 February 2028, and 1 May 2028 to 13 February 2029. In effect, Areas B and C are closed annually from 14 February to 30 April through to 2029.
Vessels that do not meet the “relevant” definition remain subject to the general prohibition across the whole of Area A at all times. The exemption regime therefore ties access to a demonstrable activity and landing history during 2023–2025.
Scientific operations conducted under the authority of the Scottish Ministers are exempt. This covers activities undertaken for the purpose of scientific investigation and does not extend to commercial fishing.
Compliance depends on precise positional awareness. The Schedule lists the co-ordinates forming the boundary lines for Areas A, B and C. Operators should plot the points referenced in Parts 1 to 3 of the Schedule and use the accompanying illustrative map to inform passage planning and gear deployment.
The penalty framework follows section 11 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967. On summary conviction, offences may attract a fine up to £50,000, with the court able to order forfeiture of fish and gear; on indictment, fines are unlimited. Where no forfeiture of fish is ordered on summary conviction, an additional fine up to the value of the fish may be imposed.
The Order revokes the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024. A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and lodged in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, with copies available from the Scottish Government Marine Directorate and online via legislation.gov.uk. The South Arran Marine Conservation Order 2015 imposes separate restrictions within part of the same waters and continues to apply.
For skippers and quota managers, immediate tasks include confirming whether vessels qualify as “relevant” using logbooks and landing records, building the 14 February to 30 April closures for Areas B and C into 2026–2029 plans, and briefing crews on the distinction between Area A and its sub-areas. Electronic chart updates before 14 February 2026 will reduce the risk of non-compliance.