A planned allocation of 65 unused European bass authorisations would give additional small vessels access to hook-and-line fishing. The Marine Management Organisation announced the process November 2, but said the application stage would launch shortly rather than declaring it open immediately.

The opportunity is intended for owners and masters of single-hull vessels measuring under eight metres that do not already hold a bass authorisation. Applicants would first submit written information establishing eligibility. Qualifying submissions would then enter a randomized ballot.

The MMO says applications will be anonymized before assessment and that supporting guidance will explain eligibility and evaluation. An application alone will not secure a permission. Successful recipients would be restricted to hook-and-line methods under this allocation.

The measure follows the 2025 authorisation review and forms part of the Bass Fisheries Management Plan. It redistributes currently unused permissions through a defined selection process; it does not mean unrestricted access to the fishery. Vessel operators will need the forthcoming guidance to establish whether they can enter the ballot.