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Fish, Trace, Ship

Support for our Exporters

What is happening?

From 10 January 2026, exporters will be required to provide additional information for seafood leaving the UK. As a registered user of the Fish Export Service, you need to act early to familiarise and adopt the changes, to ensure you can continue to export fish and seafood products. These changes will apply to all documents created within the Fish Export Service.

These changes are set out in the EU’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations and come into effect from 10 January 2026.  These changes are separate to, and unaffected by, the outcomes of the UK-EU reset deal of May 2025.  

You can read more in the EU Frequently Asked Questions document.   

How these changes affect you? 

To continue exporting seafood from the UK, you will be required to provide this additional information. Without it, you will not be able to obtain your export documentation and send your consignments. 

These changes will apply to all seafood and fisheries exports from the UK.

The additional requirements in the documentation will be optional until 10 January 2026 when they become mandatory to meet EU requirements.

1. What is changing – Catch Certificate

From 10 January 2026 the following additional information will be required for the Catch Certificate: 

  • The start date of the fishing trip  
  • The gear type used   
  • Information relating to transport documentation  
  • The area of catch (which exclusive economic zone (EEZ) the catch occurred in, if any catching took place in the high seas and whether there is interest from a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO)).  

July 2025 FES change:

In July 2025 FES was updated to include new fields for the start date of the fishing trip and transport documentation. These fields are optional now until 10 January 2026 when they will become mandatory to meet EU requirements.

To create a Catch Certificate, users will be required to enter the start date of the fishing trip (in addition to the existing requirement to provide the landing date). Users will also be required to enter details relating to the first mode of transport leaving the UK.    

September 2025 FES change:  

In September 2025 FES was updated to introduce further new fields relating to gear type used and area of catch. These fields are optional now until 10 January 2026 when they will become mandatory to meet EU requirements. This means that to create a Catch Certificate, users will be required to enter the gear type used and area of catch. 

Prior to January 2026, any information entered in the optional fields on the catch certificate will be stored securely but will not be recorded on the final PDF certificates during this period. You should continue to check that all information is accurate and up to date on your application before submission. We are urging everyone in the supply chain to begin adopting these changes as soon as possible so that you have time to familiarise and make any necessary adjustments to meet the new requirements.   

2. What is changing – Catch Certificate Data Upload users  

Previously, we contacted you about the new start date of the fishing trip field for users who use the data upload feature to create their catch certificates and to introduce a new csv file structure that can be used.  

We have now updated this new version of the csv file to include gear type used and area of catch information. The FES service will accept both the current csv file structure and the new version until January 2026, when use of the new version will become mandatory.  

We have issued detailed guidance to support data upload users and publishing this on our Gov.uk pages. 

3. What is changing – Processing Statement  

The EU have changed the circumstances when an export needs to be accompanied by a Processing Statement. Currently, UK exporters are only required to provide a Processing Statement for seafood caught by non-UK vessels and processed in the UK prior to export.

NEW: From 10 January 2026, a Processing Statement will be required for seafood caught by UK vessels and subsequently processed after landing in the UK. Processing Statements will also need to show the weights of each type of seafood that has contributed to each processed product.

‘Processed’ means any seafood that has been cut, filleted, canned, smoked, salted, cooked, pickled, dried, or otherwise prepared for market. Fish which has only been frozen and/or packed will not require a Processing Statement. 

This requirement is outlined in the EU’s official guidance. For further information please see questions 57 and 59 of the EU Frequently Asked Questions. 

4. What is changing – Storage Document   

NEW October update:

We will shortly be introducing the Non-Manipulation Document (NMD) which will replace the Storage Document from January.  The NMD will have a new template, and you may be asked to provide data differently.

The use of the new Non-Manipulation Document is currently voluntary but will be required from 10 January 2026, and the use of Storage Documents will cease. If the relevant information is not provided and passed on to the exporter, you may not be able to sell your produce.

We will update you again when the Non-Manipulation Document is available in the FES system.

Act Now: Get on Board!

Start adopting the new changes as soon as you are able. While the new EU requirements do not come into force until 10 January 2026, UK fishing authorities strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with the updates as they appear in FES and start to provide the relevant information ahead of time.  

We would also encourage you discuss these changes with your supply chain to ensure that the required information is understood and supplied. On 10 January 2026 this information will be an EU mandatory requirement and without it, you will not be able to complete your application for export documentation.  

How we are supporting you

UK fishing authorities have published new guidance explaining these changes.

We have published some FAQs to help you understand what you need to do and why.

This autumn we are holding a series of online webinars for you to attend to learn more about the new changes. The first of these will be on October 22. You can sign up here.

You can help shape the service changes by getting involved in our user research testing. We are also looking for fishers, merchants and exporters to join the design process. If you are interested, please sign up here.  

Please remember #FishTraceShip and get onboard with the changes.