The Independent Licensing Authority, established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, has had to suspend the processing of sea fishing boat licence applications. This unavoidable delay arose, initially, from the need for clarification with regard to a new EU fleet management policy and, more recently, from the consequent need to introduce a new national licensing policy. The Independent Licensing Authority is not yet in a position to decide on licence applications in the absence of a firm licensing policy.