Spurdog guidance 2023
Updated 27 March 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-spurdog-guidance/spurdog-guidance-2023
1. Changes to spurdog rules in 2023 and onwards
As per the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), delegations from the United Kingdom and the European Union met between November and December 2022 to consult on fishing opportunities for 2023, and for certain deep-sea stocks for 2023 and 2024. The Heads of Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements such as Spurdog.
Formal written record: Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
2. Removing spurdog from the prohibited list
Following ICES advice that the Northeast Atlantic Spurdog stock is recovering and can support a significant level of landings for 2023 and 2024, the UK, EU agreement allows for a Spurdog fishery to commence in UK and EU waters.
UPDATED MARCH 2023: The Sea Fisheries Statutory Instrument in respect of Seabass, Spurdog, Mako shark (2023 No.273) was laid before Parliament on 8th March 2023 and will come into force on 1st April 2023. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/273/made.
Separate total allowable catches have been agreed for the North Sea (UK share 2,781 tonnes, to be managed through sectorial FQA allocation) and Western waters (UK share 4,825 tonnes, managed by monthly limits set through licence variations).
For Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) this means the following:
2.1 When operating in UK, EU and International waters - From the 1st of April 2023
- The landing obligation will apply to specimens 100cm or less.
- It is prohibited to retain, tranship or land Spurdog above 100cm in length as measured from the end of the tail to the tip of the snout.
2.2 Catch Reporting
As with all species separate catch reports (FARs) must be made for catches from respective EU and UK zones.
2.3 Quotas
North Sea UK quota (2,781 tonnes) 75% will be apportioned between UK fisheries administrations using FQAs for allocation to sectoral groups. The remaining UK quota (25%) will be held as a reserve and considered for allocation later this year. Please speak to your fisheries administration for details on quota allocations.
Western UK quota (4,825 tonnes) will be kept unallocated and managed through monthly tonnage limits in UK vessel licences. These will be closely monitored and adjusted as necessary in year. Please see your vessel licence for details on monthly tonnages effective from 1 April.