Scottish Ministers have signed a new Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2026. Laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 January 2026 and in force from 14 February, it sets multi‑year rules across the Firth of Clyde through 13 February 2029 to support recovery of depleted stocks while giving coastal businesses a stable planning horizon.

The Order closes “Area A” to British vessels that lack recent local activity, while allowing those with a proved track record to continue fishing there outside two sensitive zones. “Areas B and C” retain the quiet season every spring: they are closed from 14 February to 30 April each year and open from 1 May to 13 February the following year. Scientific work can proceed under permit from Ministers.

In plain terms, access is frozen: only a “relevant British fishing boat” that fished and landed from Area A at least once between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025 can operate there, and even then not inside Areas B and C during the spawning shutdown. The approach protects key grounds while avoiding a sudden influx of new effort that could undermine any recovery.

Why this timing? The Clyde’s spring closure has been in place since the early 2000s to shelter spawning cod from disturbance. Since 2022 the shutdown has applied to all gears during the 14 February–30 April window, reflecting evidence that activity near the seabed can disrupt spawning behaviour. Government consultations and summaries set out the scientific case and the decision to remove earlier gear exemptions. ([consult.gov.scot](Link

Officials also refined the footprint in recent years to focus on the harder seabed types where cod are more likely to spawn. Marine Directorate reports note the closure area was tightened by about 28% in 2022 to target coarse sand and gravel habitats while leaving muddier grounds open outside the seasonal window. The 2024 statutory instrument kept the full 11‑week spring break with no exemptions. ([consult.gov.scot](Link

The broader science still points to caution. ICES’ Northern Shelf cod advice for 2025-covering the West of Scotland among other areas-sets very low catch options and highlights the need to rebuild biomass. A quiet spawning period in the Clyde is consistent with that advice, which stresses protecting vulnerable substocks while information gaps are closed. ([ices-library.figshare.com](Link

The Order sits alongside existing protections in the South Arran Nature Conservation MPA, where separate restrictions on fishing methods apply under a 2015 conservation order. Those rules continue independently of the seasonal cod measures and remain an important part of the local management picture. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

For skippers and crews, the practical effect is predictable but tight. Expect about 11 weeks of closure inside Areas B and C each spring; plan gear maintenance, alternative grounds and market commitments around 14 February to 30 April. If you think your vessel qualifies as “relevant”, check your landings history now and speak with your producer organisation or Marine Directorate contacts to ensure your status is clear ahead of enforcement.

The government has prepared a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment for the 2026 measures, noting the trade‑offs between short‑term landings and the long‑term value of a healthier inshore fishery. That analysis also points to collaborative data gathering-acoustic surveys, observer programmes and catch reporting-to strengthen future decisions. ([gov.scot](Link

Compliance is not optional. Breaching a prohibition risks seizure of catch and gear, fines up to £50,000 on summary conviction, and unlimited fines on indictment. Ministers can authorise properly designed scientific investigations, but any fishing activity must follow permit conditions to the letter. ([legislation.gov.uk](Link

What to watch next: the Order revokes the 2024 instrument and provides a clear timetable to 2029. Ministers have also flagged interest in a three‑year targeted scientific programme to improve the evidence base with local fishers’ input-data that could shape any future adjustments. For coastal communities and conservation groups alike, the task now is to make those seasons of quiet count. ([consult.gov.scot](Link