For commercial and recreational fishers in English waters:

• Southwest: A 3mm lobster MCRS increase from 87mm to 90mm will be introduced on 01 March 2026 to align with the inshore MCRS within Cornwall, Devon & Severn and Isles of Scilly IFCA districts. This will apply in English waters west of 2°56.78’W and south of 52°0.0’N.

• Rest of England: A 3mm MCRS increase from 87mm to 90mm phased in over 3 years, with a 1mm increase per year, as follows:

 88mm - 01 March 2026
 89mm - January 2027
 90 mm - January 2029

The increased MCRS will be applied initially through a fishing vessel licence condition, ahead of a more formal change in legislation (the timetable for which is to be confirmed).

Background:

·         Increasing the lobster national Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS), also known as minimum landing size (MLS), to 90mm was committed in the 2023 crab and lobster fisheries management plan (FMP) to protect the stock by allowing lobsters to reach maturity and spawn, and to simplify compliance by aligning the MCRS in some areas.

·         English lobster stock assessments from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) show that all stocks are vulnerable and would benefit from a 90mm MCRS.