Scottish Ministers have approved the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2026, made on 14 January, laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 January and due to take effect on 14 February. The legislation establishes a regime through to 13 February 2029 that determines who can fish in the Firth of Clyde and when, according to the text published on legislation.gov.uk.

In legal terms, the Order prohibits fishing by British fishing boats within the defined “Area A” unless an exemption applies. The rules cover all methods of fishing. Two nested zones-“Area B” and “Area C”-carry tighter seasonal controls within Area A, creating a layered approach that operators will need to map precisely.

Access for established operators is protected but conditional. A “relevant British fishing boat” is one that fished in Area A and landed any quantity of sea fish at least once between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025. Those vessels may fish in Area A outside Areas B and C throughout the year, and they may enter Areas B and C from 1 May until 13 February each season. Areas B and C are therefore closed annually from 14 February to 30 April.

For boats without the 2023–25 track record, Area A remains out of bounds until the framework expires in 2029. That will limit scope for new entrants and replacement tonnage in the Clyde, while providing incumbents with planning certainty over a three-year horizon.

From a business perspective, the spring closure in Areas B and C lines up with late‑winter operations when weather already compresses effort. Expect a dip in local landings from mid‑February to end‑April, then a catch‑up phase into early summer as relevant vessels regain access. Processors in Ayrshire and Argyll-particularly plants reliant on day‑boat supply from ports such as Campbeltown and Tarbert-should plan inventory and staffing around that pattern.

Penalties are material. The Explanatory Note states that offences under section 5(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 carry fines up to £50,000 on summary conviction, unlimited fines on indictment, and potential forfeiture of fish and gear. For mixed fleets working the Clyde, the cost of a compliance lapse now rivals a month’s margin.

Geography matters here. The Schedule defines Area A using three boundary lines and then sets out six and fourteen lines for Areas B and C respectively, with precise co‑ordinates and an illustrative map. Masters should load the lines into e‑logbooks and ECDIS and brief crews accordingly; informal markers will not suffice.

This 2026 instrument revokes the 2024 Clyde order, leaving one rulebook in place until 2029. Separate restrictions still apply under the South Arran Marine Conservation Order 2015, which overlaps part of the same waters, so operators must observe both regimes where they intersect.

The Order applies to British fishing boats. Scientific operations authorised by Scottish Ministers are exempt, which preserves scope for survey work during the spring closure. For most commercial vessels, the immediate tasks are confirming eligibility against the 2023–25 landing record and reshaping late‑winter effort and cash‑flow.

A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. That document should outline expected costs and benefits; for now, the headline for fleets and processors is clear seasonal timing, a track‑record gate for access, and known enforcement risk through to 13 February 2029.