The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) co-ordinates an enforcement programme for monitoring, control and surveillance of all sea fishing activity within British fishery limits around the coast of England, and UK vessels operating outside those waters.

It investigates and take appropriate enforcement action (including prosecution) when breaches of the regulations are identified. This enforcement work is crucial to ensuring high compliance with fisheries regulations so that fish stocks are exploited in a sustainable way to assist the long-term economic survival of the fishing industry and to protect a valuable natural food resource.

• To find out more see the MMO website

Implementing rules for the Control Regulation

In April 2010  the Commission published its first draft proposal for the detailed rules for implementation of the Control Regulation Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 ( and the associated annexes. The Regulation establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. We’re discussing the rules with the fishing and processing industries to make sure that we can raise any concerns during discussions with the Commission and other Member States. 

Electronic recording and reporting of fishing activity

The European Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 covers:  

• electronic recording of information required in logbooks, landing declarations and transhipment declarations
• electronic recording and transhipment of sales notes data by those involved in the sale at auction and purchases of first sale fish
• use of remote sensing of fishing vessels by member states

You can find the detailed rules on the implementation of electronic recording and reporting in Commission Regulation 1077/2008.

• More information on electronic logbooks.

Administrative penalties

The Administrative penalties scheme operates under statutory instrument SI 2008 No. 984. The scheme was developed through co-operative working between UK Fisheries Administrations and the UK fishing industry. The intention is that fixed penalty notices will be issued as an alternative to criminal prosecutions in certain circumstances.

• Guidance for industry on the scheme

We’re reviewing the scheme to include national measures as well as EU measures and will be consulting on this.

For further information email adminpenalties@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Registration of buyers and sellers of fish

The Registration of Buyers and Sellers (RBS) scheme has been fully operational in the UK since 2005. Since the introduction of the scheme, representatives of the industry have acknowledged the positive impact it has had on compliance by providing greater transparency, improved cross checking of fish landings data and a contribution to reduced levels of black landings.

Application forms and guidance

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) operates the RBS scheme for Defra. Forms and guidance on registering as a buyer or seller of fish or applying for designation of premises as an auction site in the UK under The Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Fish Auction Sites Regulations 2005 are on the MMO website.

Buyers’ and Sellers sales notes can be submitted online to the MMO.

You can search the Online register to find out if premises are designated as an auction site or if an individual or company is a registered buyer or seller of first sale fish.

For further information email RBSregister@defra.gsi.gov.uk