Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) in UK waters
Updated 12 November 2018
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1. Fish
| Species | Scientific name | MCRS in UK waters* |
|---|---|---|
| Anchovy | Engraulis encrasicolus | Whole area, except ICES division IXa east of longitude 7° 23′ 48″ W: 12 cm or 90 individuals/kg. ICES division IXa east of longitude 7° 23′ 48″ W:10cm |
| Bass | Dicentrarchus labrax | 42 cm (1) |
| Blue ling | Molva dipterygia | 70 cm |
| Cod | Gadus morhua | 35 cm |
| Haddock | Melanogrammus aeglefinus | 30 cm |
| Hake | Merluccius merluccius | 27 cm |
| Herring | Clupea harengus | 20 cm |
| Horse mackerel | Trachurus spp. | 15 cm |
| Ling | Molva molva | 63 cm |
| Mackerel | Scomber spp. | Whole area, except North Sea: 20 cm. North Sea: 30 cm |
| Megrim | Lepidorhombus spp. | 20 cm |
| Plaice | Pleuronectes platessa | 27 cm |
| Pollack | Pollachius pollachius | 30 cm |
| Red Sea Bream | Pagellus bogaraveo | 33 cm (2) |
| Saithe (Coalfish) | Pollachius virens | 35 cm |
| Sardine | Sardina pilchardus | 11 cm |
| Sole | Solea spp. | 24 cm |
| Whiting | Merlangius merlangus | 27 cm |
*Region 2 as defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 Article 2 1 (b)
(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1316
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/787
2. Molluscs
| Species | Scientific name | MCRS in UK waters* |
|---|---|---|
| Bean Solen** | Pharus legumen | 65 mm |
| Carpetshell** | Venerupis pullastra | 38 mm |
| Clam** | Venus verrucosa | 40 mm |
| Donax Clams** | Donax spp. | 25 mm |
| Grooved carpetshell** | Ruditapes decussatus | 40 mm |
| Hard Clam** | Callista chione | 6 cm |
| Octopus | Octopus Vulgaris | 750 grams |
| Queen scallop** | Chlamys spp. | 40 mm |
| Razor Clam** | Ensis spp | 10 cm |
| Scallop** | Pecten maximus | Whole area, except ICES VIIa north of 52o 30′ N and VIId: 100 mm ICES VIIa north of 52o 30′ N, VIId: 110 mm |
| Short-necked Clam** | Ruditapes Phillippinarum | 35 mm |
| Surf Clams** | Spisula solida | 25 mm |
| Whelk** | Buccinum undatum | 45 mm |
*Region 2 as defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 Article 2 1 (b)
**Must be landed whole
3. Crustaceans
| Species | Scientific name | MCRS in UK waters* |
|---|---|---|
| Crawfish** | Palinurus spp. | 95 mm |
| Deepwater Rose Shrimp | Parapenaeus longirostirs | 22 mm (carapace length) |
| Edible crab*** | Cancer pagarus | Regions 1 and 2 north of 56o N: 140 mm Region 2 south of 56o N, except ICES Divisions VIId, e, f, and ICES Divisions IVb, c: 130 mm ICES Divisions IVb, c south of 56 oN: 130 mm, except for an area limited by a point at 53o28′22″ N, 0o09′24″ E, on the coast of England, a straight line joining this point with 53o28′22″ N, 0o22′24″ E, the 6 mile boundary of the United Kingdom, and a straight line connecting a point at 51o54′06″ N, 1o30′30″ E, with a point on the coast of England at 51o55′48″ N, 1o17′00″ E, where the minimum landing conservation reference size shall be 115 mm ICES Divisions VIId, e, f: 140 mm Region 3: 130 mm Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles male edible crab: 160mm (1) |
| Lobster** | Homarus gammarus | 87 mm |
| Norway lobster | Nephrops norvegicus | Whole area, except Region 3 and ICES VIa, VIIa: total length 85 mm, carapace length 25 mm, tail 46mm ICES VIa, VIIa; Region 3: total length 70 mm, carapace length 20 mm, tail 37mm |
| Norway lobster tails | Nephrops norvegicus | Whole area, except Region 3 and ICES VIa, VIIa: 46 mm ICES VIa, VIIa; Regione 3: 37 mm |
| Spinous Spider Crab** | Maia squinado | Male 130mm2 Female 120 mm |
| Velvet crab** | Necora puber | Whole area except Outer Hebrides and the Orkney Islands 65 mm. (3) Outer Hebrides and the Orkney Islands 70 mm. (3) |
*Region 2 as defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 Article 2 1 (b)
**Must be landed whole
***When using pots or creels, a maximum of 1 % by weight of the total catch of edible crabs landed may consist of detached claws. For all other gear types a maximum of 75kg of detached claws may be landed
(1) Statutory Instrument 2000/ 2029 The Undersized Edible Crabs Order 2000. Applies to UK vessels only
(2) Statutory Instrument 2000/1502 The Undersized Spider Crabs Order 2000. Applies to UK vessels only
(3) Statutory Instrument 1898/919 Undersized Velvet Crabs Order 1989. Applies to UK vessels only