Marine Management Organisation Opens Applications for Bass Authorisations

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced the opening of applications for a limited number of bass authorisations. Sixty-five authorisations will be made available to English licensed single hulled under-8 metre vessels. The selection process will involve a written application followed by a blind selection of eligible applicants.

The authorisations are currently unused and will enable successful applicants to fish for bass using hook and line only. They are restricted to vessels that do not already hold a bass authorisation. An unused authorisation is defined as one that is no longer linked to a fishing vessel, for example, due to the vessel being retired. Existing bass authorisation holders will not be affected by this process.

These opportunities follow the outcomes of the 2025 bass authorisation review and are being delivered under the bass fisheries management plan (FMP). Full guidance on eligibility, conditions, and application routes is available at MMO Fisheries Management Plan Updates. The application process will close at midnight on Monday 21 December 2026, giving fishermen six weeks to submit their applications.

MMO will hold engagement events around the coast to answer questions and assist with the application process. Dates, times, and locations for these events will be published on the FMP blog. Tim Dixon, MMO’s Head of Fisheries Management, stated that the organisation is committed to engaging with fishermen to ensure the application process is transparent and manageable. He also noted that applying does not guarantee access to the bass fishery, but every application will be considered.

The bass fishery has been carefully managed since 2015 to support stock recovery, with measures such as catch limits, seasonal closures, and authorisations helping to reduce pressure on the stock. While these measures have improved sustainability, a review of bass fishing identified a need to ensure wider access to opportunities and to support other goals such as reducing discards and supporting coastal communities. The decision to allocate unused bass authorisations stems from engagement with industry and wider stakeholders as part of fisheries management planning.