Fish, Trace, Ship 鈥� New IUU regulations come into effect with MMO supporting UK seafood industry through the transition
New EU Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations come into force this week, and the UK Fish Export System will require the new information to be provided from this evening (8 January). This marks a significant milestone for the UK fishing and seafood sector as it adapts to strengthened export requirements across the supply chain.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO)听has听been听working听with all UK Fishing Administrations听to help听industry听prepare听and听be听compliant from today.听This includes extensive support听provided through听the听Fish, Trace, Ship campaign,听aimed at听ensuring听fishermen, processors,听exporters听and transporters understand the new听legal requirements听and can continue to听export听products without disruption.听
This support has been shaped directly by industry feedback and听remains听available听after听the听transition. It includes 听covering听Catch Certificates, Processing Statements,听Non-Manipulation Documents听and听CSV uploads.听There听are听also听FAQs,听guidance on听new information听fields required within the Fish Export Service system听and听template label examples to support all stages in the supply chain.听
Nicholas Greenwood, MMO鈥檚 Head of Marine Protection and Operations Services, said:听
Today marks the听UK deadline for听new听information听to be provided by exporters听to improve traceability,听combat IUU fishing, and听maintain听trade flows with the EU and beyond.听We are confident that听our听seafood听and export听industry is听as听ready听as possible. Businesses across the supply chain have worked hard to prepare, and we recognise the significant effort that has gone into meeting these new requirements.听
MMO teams听remain听on hand to support exporters, processors,听transporters听and fishers as they adjust to the new听requirements.听Compliance is essential,听exports without the correct documentation risk delays,听but we听remain听committed to helping industry听to听keep听UK听exports听moving.
For more information, visit the Fish, Trace, Ship campaign site:听听
Additional information
The Fish听Export Service will be updated on 8 January 2026 to听comply with听new EU IUU听regulations. The changes are听required听to meet updated export requirements. The Service will be听unavailable from 5pm for听a period of time.听
MMO, supported by the UKFMC, will be providing extended hours of support from the evening of 8 January. In addition to the usual FES helpline times (8am to 6pm听Monday to Friday), an extended out of hours helpline service will听operate听to provide 24/7 advice and support. The UK SLO will also听operate听extended hours from 6am to听10pm听Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm听Saturday and Sunday. Please note that manual overrides will only be available 8am to 6pm. Where UK export consignments are held by an import authority subject to a formal verification request, these can only be resolved when both UK SLO and importing SLO are听operating.