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) has been working with all UK Fishing Administrations to help industry prepare and be compliant from today. This includes extensive support provided through the Fish, Trace, Ship campaign, aimed at ensuring fishermen, processors, exporters and transporters understand the new legal requirements and can continue to export products without disruption.
This support has been shaped directly by industry feedback and remains available after the transition. It includes step by step videos covering Catch Certificates, Processing Statements, Non-Manipulation Documents and CSV uploads. There are also FAQs, guidance on new information fields required within the Fish Export Service system and template label examples to support all stages in the supply chain.
Nicholas Greenwood, MMO's Head of Marine Protection and Operations Services, said:
Today marks the UK deadline for new information to be provided by exporters to improve traceability, combat IUU fishing, and maintain trade flows with the EU and beyond. We are confident that our seafood and export industry is as ready 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.
MMO teams remain on hand to support exporters, processors, transporters and fishers as they adjust to the new requirements. Compliance is essential, exports without the correct documentation risk delays, but we remain committed to helping industry to keep UK exports moving.
