The UK has signed off new sea fisheries rules that increase the daily recreational bag limit for European sea bass to three fish and take picked dogfish (spurdog) off the prohibited species list, moving controls into vessel licences. Ministers say the changes reflect updated scientific advice and keep UK rules aligned with the 2026 UK–EU agreement. The instrument was made on 5 February, laid on 6 February and comes into force on 27 February 2026.

For anglers, the essentials stay familiar: catch-and-release only from 1 February to 31 March; a minimum conservation reference size of 42 cm for any bass you retain; and no use of fixed nets to target bass. From 27 February, the daily limit becomes three bass per person outside the February–March catch‑and‑release window, subject to any stricter local nursery‑area rules. Government guidance confirms the February–March closure and the 42 cm size limit remain in place to protect spawning fish. (gov.uk)

Why the uplift now? Scientific advice indicates sea bass in the English Channel is on a more positive trajectory than many mixed demersal stocks, though managers remain cautious. ICES’ 2025 outlook notes sea bass increasing in the Channel, and its latest stock advice for bass in the central and southern North Sea, Irish Sea, Channel and Celtic Sea sets a 2025 total‑removals cap of 2,776 tonnes under the MSY approach. The UK–EU talks in December signalled a move to a three‑fish recreational bag, now implemented domestically. (ukbass.com)

Picked dogfish-better known to many as spurdog-will no longer sit on the blanket prohibited list in retained EU law. Instead, controls shift to licence conditions, reflecting the species’ recovery from a decade of closure and the reopening of tightly managed fisheries since 2023. DEFRA previously confirmed spurdog stocks had improved sufficiently to support landings under strict limits, with the UK and EU agreeing further refinements for 2026. (gov.uk)

That shift does not mean a free‑for‑all. The government has used licence conditions to cap monthly or annual landings and to refine measures such as the now‑removed 100 cm maximum landing size, which was introduced as a precaution when the fishery first reopened and has since been reviewed against new ICES evidence. The 2026 bilateral agreement removed the 100 cm cap while lowering the TAC, with national licence conditions continuing to manage effort and monitoring. (parliament.scot)

The science still points to caution. Spurdog are slow‑growing, late‑maturing sharks with one of the longest pregnancies of any vertebrate-around 18–24 months-which makes populations slow to rebound if pressure rises too quickly. That’s why UK regulators and scientists have coupled cautious quotas with handling guidance to maximise survivability when fish are released. (wildlifetrusts.org)

On the water, fishers are already trialling real‑time reporting and advisory maps to help avoid spurdog hotspots. A pilot by‑catch avoidance programme uses daily grid references and a traffic‑light system, backed by training from Cefas and the Shark Trust on safe handling. These practical tools matter as much as the rules: they cut discard mortality and give managers better data to adjust limits in‑year. (gov.uk)

Zooming out, the picture across UK seas is mixed. ICES’ 2026 advice shows several Celtic Sea stocks under severe pressure, even as some Channel species-including sea bass-improve. That context explains the government’s dual message this year: tighter measures where science demands it, coupled with targeted flex where stocks can bear it. (ices.dk)

What should anglers and charter skippers do now? Mark your diaries for the 1 February–31 March catch‑and‑release period; measure bass carefully to 42 cm minimum; and plan trips assuming a three‑fish daily limit from 27 February unless stricter local nursery rules apply. Keep an eye on MMO updates and IFCA notices-bag limits and licence conditions can tighten in response to real‑time evidence. (gov.uk)

For commercial crews, check your licence pages for any revised spurdog limits and reporting duties. The move from blanket prohibition to licence‑based controls brings flexibility but also higher expectations on monitoring, catch recording and compliance. It’s a pragmatic test of UK fisheries law: science‑led, data‑rich and designed to keep both coastal jobs and marine life more resilient through 2026. (gov.uk)