Minimum Fish Sizes
Pelagic and Demersal Fish
(List of species from Annex XII, EC Reg No. 850/98)
Species |
Minimum Size |
Species |
Minimum Size |
| Bass (Dicentrachus Labrax) |
36cm |
Mackerel (Scomber spp.) |
30cm |
| Blue Ling (Molva dipterygia) |
70cm |
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) |
20cm |
| Cod (Gadus morhua) |
35cm |
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) |
27cm |
| Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) |
30cm |
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) |
30cm |
| Hake (Merluccius merluccius) |
27cm |
Saithe (Pollachius virens) |
35cm |
| Herring (Clupea harengus) |
20cm |
Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) |
11cm |
| Horse Mackerel (Trachurus spp.) |
15cm |
Sole (Solea spp.) |
24cm |
| Ling (Molva molva) |
63cm |
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) |
27cm |
Shellfish
(List of the more common species, including Annex XII, EC Reg No. 850/98,
in the ESFJC District)
Species |
Minimum |
Measurement |
| Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus) |
115mm(3) |
Width of Carapace (Figure 4B) |
| Lobster (Homarus gammarus) |
87mm(3) |
Length of Carapace (Figure 3) |
| Razor Clams (Ensis spp.) |
100mm |
Longest Part of the Shell (Figure 5) |
| Surf Clam (Spisula solida) |
25mm |
Longest Part of the Shell (Figure 5) |
| Whelk (Buccinum undatum) |
45mm |
Length of the Shell (Figure 6) |
| Velvet Crab (Liocarcinus puber) |
65mm(4) |
Width of Carapace (excluding spines) (Figure 4B) |
| Mussel (Mytilus edulis) |
50mm(5) |
Longest Part of the Shell (Figure 5) |
Notes
(1) A marine organism is undersize if its dimensions are smaller than the minimum dimensions specified.
(2) Undersized marine organisms shall not be retained onboard or be transhipped, landed, stored,
sold, displayed or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately to the sea.
(3) Further restrictions, on the fishing for and use of crab and lobster, are contained in the ESFJC Byelaws.
(4) The minimum size for the velvet crabs is laid down in SI No.919: "The Undersized Velvet Crabs
Order 1989".
(5) ESFJC District, 50mm, except within the boundaries of the Wash Fishery Order where 45mm applies.