Whelk fishery

We are introducing a new whelk fishery management system in the Welsh zone. New measures are being brought in:

• to conserve the whelk stock, and
• to ensure the sustainability of the fishery through adaptive management

From 1 March 2022, you will need a permit to fish commercially for whelks with pots using a powered vessel. We will issue the permits with conditions which can be varied from time to time to safeguard the stock.

Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 5,298 tonnes

This is the total amount of whelk which can be taken by all permitted vessels combined, during a permit period.

Flexible Monthly Catch Limit (MCL)

This is the maximum amount of whelk each permitted vessel can take in a given month. All permitted vessels will get the same MCL, which will be updated here each month.

We will use the MCL to ensure the ACL is not exceeded. This will also ensure that the benefit of the fishery is spread across the permit period in line with historical fishing patterns. (See Whelk fishery - methodology used to calculate catch limits Figure 2 & Figure 3 on page 12 &13)

Total Catch Landed: 0 tonnes 

This is the total whelk landed so far in this permit period.

Whelk fishery: guidance 2022 to 2023 
This explains how we will manage the whelk fishery in the Welsh zone.

Whelk fishery - apply for a permit 2022 to 2023 

Apply for a permit to fish for whelk with pots in the Welsh zone:

• you will need vessel details including fishing licence number
• you must complete an application form for each vessel you wish to fish

We are currently working on the forms that you will need to:

• submit your monthly catch return, and
• make changes to the vessel named on your permit

We will add the forms here as they become available.

If you have problems with any of these forms, please contact us:

• e-mail: milfordhavenfisheriesoffice@gov.wales
• telephone: 0300 025 3500

Whelk fishery - methodology used to calculate catch limits

The Whelk Fishing Permit (Wales) Order 2021 
Makes provision for a permitting regime to fish for whelk with pots in the Welsh zone from 1 March 2022.

The Whelk Fishing (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2019

The Whelk Fishing (Wales) Order 2019 
Make provision for a minimum catch, carriage and landing size of 65mm in the Welsh zone.

Proposed permit conditions for a new whelk permit

Whelk management measures 2020 – extension

Whelk fishery: privacy notice 
Explains how we use the data you have provided to us.