European Fishery MLS

In European Union member states, there exists a standard set of minimum landing sizes (MLS) for all major species of finfish and shellfish. These MLS are set under EU Council Regulation 850/98.

SpeciesImageMLSMLS Skagerrak/KattegatCod Gadus morhua350 mm300 mmHaddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus300 mm270 mmSaithe (Coalfish) Pollachius virens350 mm300 mmPollock Pollachius pollachius300 mm–European Hake Merluccius merluccius270 mm300 mmMegrim Lepidorhombus spp.200 mm250 mmSole Soleidae or solea240 mm240 mmPlaice Pleuronectes platessa270 mm270 mmWhiting Merlangius merlangus270 mm230 mmCommon ling Molva molva630 mm–Blue ling Molva dipterygiall700 mm–Bass Dicentrarchus labrax420 mm–Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus85 mmThere are various MLS for prawns depending on the area in which they are caught. Common MLS are carapace lengths of 25 mm or 20 mm combined with a total length of 85 mm or 70 mm. See here for full details.130 (40) mm The MLS for prawns is a minimum total length of 130 mm with a minimum carapace length of 40 mm.Mackerel Scomber spp.200 mm (300 mm in North Sea)200 mmHerring Clupea harengus200 mm180 mmHorse mackerel Trachurus spp.150 mm150 mmSardine Sardina pilchardus110 mm–European lobster Homarus gammarus87 mmSize given is for minimum carapace length. No minimum total length is stipulated.220 mm (78 mm)Spinous spider crab Maia squinadoMale: 130 mm Female: 120 mm–Queen scallop Chlamys spp.40 mm–Grooved carpetshell Ruditapes decussatus40 mm–Carpetshell Venerupis pullastra38 mm–Short-necked clam Ruditapes philippinarum35 mm–Clam Venus verruosa40 mm–Smooth clam Callista chione60 mm–Atlantic jackknife clam Ensis spp.100 mm–Surf clam Spisula solida25 mm–Donax clam Donax spp.25 mm–Bean solen Pharus legumen65 mm–Whelk Buccinum undatum45 mm–Octopus Octopus vulgaris750 grams–Swordfish Xiphias gladius1250 mm or 25 kg lower mandible–Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus700 mm or 6.4 kg–Crayfish Palinurus spp.95 mm–Deepwater rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris22 mm–

See also List of harvested aquatic animals by weight

References