Bass Regulations
Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123, The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021, The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 and The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2022 detail the restrictions for catching European Seabass for both Commercial and Recreational fisheries.
Commercial Fishing
View the full Bass Fishing Guidance 2022 on the MMO website here - Bass Fishing Guidance 2022
Commercial catching, retaining, transhipment and landing of bass is subject to restrictions. Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123, The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021 and The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 and The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2022 detail the full restrictions for catching European Seabass.
The commercial restrictions relating to bass are as follows:
It is prohibited to retain bass in February and March.
During January and during the period from 1st April - end of December in each calendar year, commercial vessels may fish for, retain, tranship, relocate or land Bass with the following gear and within the following limits:
- Demersal trawls and seines - maximum 5% by weight of all marine organisms per trip, unavoidable bycatch not exceeding 760kg in any two consecutive months
- Hooks and lines - not exceeding 5.95 tonnes per vessel per year
- Fixed gillnets - by-catches not exceeding 1.5 tonnes per vessel per year
Commercial fisheries using hooks and lines or fixed gillnets require a specific authorisation by the MMO to catch and retain bass.
The legislation also prohibits any commercial bass fisheries from the shore.