A consultation on a seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery in ICES area 7 (English waters) 2025 - 2026

BackgroundBackground  

In 2024,2023 and 2024 MMO worked with industry to address concerns forregarding the southwest crawfish fishery in(Palinurus thespp). southwest.Following Stakeholderstakeholder engagement events and consultations werethe heldminimum regardingconservation seasonalreference closuressize of(MCRS) thewas fishery.increased Thefrom first95 closuremillimetres took(mm) placeto between110 05mm Februaryon 20241 toJanuary 30 April 2024. The secondincreased closureMCRS tookwas placethen betweenplaced 16into Decemberregulation 2024The toSea 31fisheries May(Amendment) 2025.

In(No December2) 2024 theand licence condition for the increased110 minimummm conservationMCRS referencefor sizecrawfish ‘MCRS’ (minimum landing size) of 110 millimetres (mm) was succeededadopted byfor aall statutoryEnglish instrument (SI).  waters.  

Consultation

MMOThere hashave openedbeen athree consultationconsultations for acrawfish seasonal closureclosures. duringAll winterconsultations 2025received tosupport springfor 2026.a Theseasonal consultationclosure. isThe openfirst untilclosure midnightwas onfrom 205 JulyFebruary 2025.  

Proposed2024 optionsto for30 considerationApril in2024, thisthe consultationsecond are:

• option 1: no closure.
• option 2: seasonal closure was from 1916 December 20252024 to 31 May 20262025. (inclusive)

TheDetails seasonalfor closurethe wouldlatest meanconsultation aare prohibitionin ofthe retainingsection andbelow.  

2025 landingConsultation  

MMO crawfishran (Palinurusa spp)consultation into Englishseek watersviews ofon ICESa subfurther areaseasonal 7,closure of the crawfish fishery for all2025/2026. UKThis andconsultation EUran vesselsfrom with5 allJune gear2025 types.to 20 July 2025. 

The rationale for the closure is to: to:  

• offer

  provide additional protection for breeding and spawning opportunities.

• reducepotential by decreasing the risknumber of highremovals mortalityand ratesinteractions fromwith catchingfishing fishactivities. 

• improve thatspawning arepotential inby poorincreasing condition and from the potentiallikelihood ofthat longcrawfish netcan soakspawn timesand ormoult netbefore lossinteracting inwith poorfishing weather, andactivity.  

• support

  improve futurethe growthsubsequent inrecruitment of juveniles into the populationfishery by protecting berried females for a specified period and allowing for settlement of juvenile stock.stock.  

Southwest octopus bloom 

 MMO proposed the surroundingfollowing areas. potential closure options for consideration:  

• MMOno isclosure. 

• from closely19 monitoringDecember the2025 octopusto bloom31 andMay has2026. 

The metconsultation withgave fisheriesrespondents managersthe andopportunity scientists to assesssuggest thea situationdifferent andclosure impacts.  

period. MMO remainsalso committedasked tofor workingsuggestions collaborativelyfor withtechnical stakeholdersmeasures to(other understandthan theeffort effectsmanagement) acrossthat fisheriescould andbe isexplored meetingfor industryfuture membersmanagement tot.  

Having discussconsidered concerns,the shareconsultation updates,responses, scientific and considerenvironmental potentialevidence, actions.socio-economics and relevant legislation and policy MMO will updateintroduce stakeholdersa withclosure of the outcomescrawfish offishery thefor discussionsall UK and isEU usingvessels thein southwestICES regionalarea fisheries7 group(English GOV.UKwaters) webpagefrom 17 November 2025 to post31 updates. 

WhatMay happens2026 next?  

MMOFurther will review all the information receivedon during the consultationconsultation, and will publish a summary of the responses received and reasoning behind the decision onis whetheravailable toin close the crawfish2025/2026 fisherydecision anddocument whenbelow.  

What ahappens closurenext? 

The might occur.  Any closure will be enacted by a a fishing vessel licence variationvariation..

Further informationThe onvariation thewill previousprohibit closurevessels consultations,fishing, aretaining summaryon ofboard, responsesstoring receivedor andlanding reasoningcrawfish behindduring the decisionclosure is available below.period. 

Contact usus 

If you have any questions or queries, then please email or call our helpline using the details provided below:

Email: E mail: FMP@marinemanagement.org.uk  

MMO helpline: 0300 123 10321000