{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1996-2406/annex-II",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1996-2406/annex-II.json",
  "legislation": "eur/1996/2406",
  "legislation_title": "Council Regulation(EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1996-2406",
  "path": "annex/II",
  "kind": "annex",
  "number": "II",
  "heading": "SIZE CATEGORIES",
  "text": "The categories of weights include fish from the lower limit up to, but excluding, the upper limit.\nFor mackerel of both species, number of fish/25 kg.\nThis table shall apply until 31 December 1997.\nThis table shall apply from 1 January 1998.\nWidth of shell.\nWidth of shell at the widest point.\nExcept Skagerrak and Kattegat.\nSkagerrak and Kattegat.\nLength of shell.\nOverall length.\nScale of weights\nMinimum sizes to be observed in accordance with conditions laid down in legislation specifying minimum conservation reference sizes for relevant fish\nSpecies\nSize\nKg/fish\nNumber of fish/kg\nRegion\nGeographical area\nMinimum size\nAtlantic herring ( Clupea harengus )\n1\n0,250 and over\n4 or less\n1\nICES Vb (EC zone)\n20 cm\n2\n0,125 to 0,250\n5 to 8\n2\n20 cm\n3\n0,085 to 0,125\n9 to 11\n(a)\n18 cm\n4(a)\n0,050 to 0,085\n12 to 20\n3\n(b)\n20 cm\nBaltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed, south of 59 o 30′\n4(b)\n0,036 to 0,085\n12 to 27\nBaltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed, north of 59 o 30′\n4(c)\n0,057 to 0,085\n12 to 17\n5\n0,031 to 0,057\n18 to 32\n6\n0,023 to 0,031\n33 to 44\nBaltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed in waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Estonia and Latvia\n7(a)\n0,023 to 0,036\n28 to 44\n7(b)\n0,014 to 0,023\n45 to 70\nBaltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed in the Gulf of Riga\n8\n0,010 to 0,014\n71 to 100\nSardines\n(Sardina pilchardus)\n1\n0,067 and over\n15 or less\nnot yet fixed\n2\n0,042 to 0,067\n16 to 24\n3\na 0,028 to 0,042\n25 to 35\n4\n0,015 to 0,028\n36 to 67\nMediterranean\n0,011 to 0,028\n36 to 91\nSpotted dogfish\n(Scyliorhinus spp.)\n1\n2 and over\n—\n—\n2\n1 to 2\n3\n0,5 to 1\nPiked dogfish\n(Squalus acanthias)\n1\n2,2 and over\n—\n—\n2\n1 to 2,2\n3\n0,5 to 1\nRedfish\n(Sebastes spp.)\n1\n2 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,6 to 2\n3\n0,35 to 0,6\nCod\n(Gadus morhua)\n1\n7 and over\n—\n1\n35 cm\n2\n4 to 7\n2\n35 cm\n3\n2 to 4\n30 cm\n4\n1 to 2\n3\n35 cm\n5\n0,3 to 1\nBaltic\nSouth of 59o30′ N\n35 cm\nSaithe\n(Pollachius virens)\n1\n5 and over\n—\n1\n35 cm\n2\n3 to 5\n2\n35 cm\n3\n1,5 to 3\n30 cm\n4\n0,3 to 1,5\n3\n35 cm\nBaltic\nSouth of 59o30′ N\n30 cm\nHaddock\n(Melanogrammus aeglefinus)\n1\n1 and over\n—\n1\nICES Vb) (EC-zone)\n30 cm\n2\n0,57 to 1\n2\n30 cm\n3\n0,37 to 0,57\n27 cm\n4\n0,17 to 0,37\n3\n30 cm\nWhiting\n(Merlangius merlangus)\n1\n0,5 and over\n—\n1\n27 cm\n2\n0,35 to 0,5\n2\n23 cm\n3\n0,25 to 0,35\n23 cm\n4\n0,11 to 0,25\n3\n23 cm\nLing\n(Molva spp.)\n1\n5 and over\n—\n1\n—\n2\n3 to 5\n2\nnot yet fixed\n3\n1,2 to 3\n—\n3\n63 cm\nMackerel of the species Scomber scombrus Mediterranean\n1\n0,5 and over\n50 or less\n1\n20 cm\n2\n0,2 to 0,5\n51 to 125\n2\nExcept North Sea\n20 cm\n3\n0,1 to 0,2\n126 to 250\nNorth Sea\n30 cm\n0,08 to 0,2\n126 to 325\n3\n20 cm\n5\n20 cm\nMediterranean\n18 cm\nMackerel of the species Scomber japonicus\n1\n0,5 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,25 to 0,5\n3\n0,14 to 0,25\n4\n0,05 to 0,14\nAnchovy\n(Engraulis spp.)\n1\n0,033 and over\n30 or less\n3\nexcept ICES IXa)\n12 cm\n2\n0,020 to 0,033\n31 to 50\n3\nICES IXa)\n10 cm\n3\n0,012 to 0,020\n51 to 83\nMediterranean\n9 cm\n4\n0,008 to 0,012\n84 to 125\nPlaice\n(Pleuronectes platessa)\n1\n0,6 and over\n—\n1\n25 cm\n2\n0,4 to 0,6\n2\n25 cm\n3\n0,3 to 0,4\n27 cm\n4\n0,15 to 0,3\nNorth Sea\n27 cm\n3\n25 cm\nBaltic\nsubdivisions 22 to 25\n25 cm\nsubdivisions 26 to 28\n21 cm\nsubdivisions 29 South of 59o30′ N\n18 cm\nHake\n(Merluccius merluccius)\n1\n2,5 and over\n—\n1\n30 cm\n2\n1,2 to 2,5\n2\n30 cm\n3\n0,6 to 1,2\n30 cm\n4\n0,28 to 0,6\n3\n27 cm\n5\n0,2 to 0,28\nMediterranean\n20 cm\nMediterranean\n0,15 to 0,28\nMegrim\n(Lepidorhombus spp.)\n1\n0,45 and over\n—\n1\n25 cm\n2\n0,25 to 0,45\n2\n25 cm\n3\n0,20 to 0,25\n25 cm\n4\n0,11 to 0,20\n3\n20 cm\nMediterranean\n0,05 to 0,20\nRay's bream\n(Brama spp.)\n1\n0,8 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,2 to 0,8\nAnglerfish\n(Lophius spp.)\nwhole, gutted\n1\n8 and over\n—\n1\n—\n2\n4 to 8\n2\nnot yet fixed\n3\n2 to 4\n—\n4\n1 to 2\n3\nnot yet fixed\n5\n0,5 to 1\nMediterranean\n30 cm\nAnglerfish\n(Lophius spp.)\nhead removed\n1\n4 and over\n—\n—\n2\n2 to 4\n3\n1 to 2\n4\n0,5 to 1\n5\n0,2 to 0,5\nDab\n(Limanda limanda)\n1\n0,25 and over\n—\n1\n15 cm\n2\n0,13 to 0,25\n2\n15 cm\n23 cm\nNorth Sea\n23 cm\n3\n23 cm\nLemon sole\n(Microstomus kitt)\n1\n0,6 and over\n—\n1\n25 cm\n2\n0,35 to 0,6\n2\n25 cm\n3\n0,18 to 0,35\n25 cm\n3\n25 cm\nAlbacore or long-finned tuna\n(Thunnus alalunga)\n1\n4 and over\n—\n—\n2\n1,5 to 4\nBlue-fin tuna\n(Thunnus thynnus)\n1\n70 and over\n—\nMediterranean\n70 cm or 6,4 kg\n2\n50 to 70\n3\n25 to 50\n4\n10 to 25\n5\n6,4 to 10\nBig-eye tuna\n(Thunnus obesus)\n1\n10 and over\n—\n—\n2\n3,2 to 10\nPollack\n(Pollachius pollachius)\n1\n5 and over\n—\n1\n—\n2\n3 to 5\n2\n30 cm\n3\n1,5 to 3\n—\n4\n0,3 to 1,5\n3\n30 cm\nBlue whiting\n(Micromesistius poutassou or Gadus poutassou)\n1\n—\n7 or less\n—\n2\n8 to 14\n3\n15 to 25\n4\n26 to 30\nPouting\n(Trisopterus luscus)\nand Poor cod\n(Trisopterus minutus)\n1\n0,4 and over\n—\n3\nnot yet fixed\n2\n0,25 to 0,4\n3\n0,125 to 0,25\n4\n0,05 to 0,125\nBoghe\n(Boops boops)\n1\n—\n5 or less\n—\n2\n6 to 31\n3\n32 to 70\nPicarel\n(Maena sararis)\n1\n—\n20 or less\n—\n2\n21 to 40\n3\n41 to 90\nConger eel\n(Conger conger)\n1\n7 and over\n—\n1\n—\n2\n5 to 7\n2\n58 cm\n3\n0,5 to 5\n—\n3\n58 cm\nGurnard\n(Trigla spp.)\nTub gurnard\n1\n1 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,4 to 1\n3\n0,2 to 0,4\n4\n0,06 to 0,2\nOther Gurnard\n1\n0,25 and over\n2\n0,2 — 0,25\nHorse mackerel\n(Trachurus spp.)\n1\n0,6 and over\n—\n1\n15 cm\n2\n0,4 to 0,6\n2\n15 cm\n3\n0,2 to 0,4\n3\n15 cm\n4\n0,08 to 0,2\n5\n15 cm\n5\n0,02 to 0,08\nMediterranean\n12 cm\nMullet\n(Mugil spp.)\n1\n1 and over\n—\n1\n—\n2\n0,5 to 1\n2\n20 cm\n3\n0,2 to 0,5\n—\n4\n0,1 to 0,2\n3\n20 cm\nMediterranean\n16 cm\nSkate\n(Raja spp.)\n1\n5 and over\n—\n—\n2\n3 to 5\n3\n1 to 3\n4\n0,3 to 1\nSkate\n(wings)\n1\n3 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,5 to 3\nFlounder\n(Platichthys Flesus)\n1\nover 0,3\n—\n1\n24 cm\n2\n0,2 to 0,3 inclusive\n2\n24 cm\n24 cm\n3\n24 cm\nBaltic\nsubdivisions 22-25\n25 cm\nsubdivisions 26-28\n21 cm\nsubdivisions 29-32 South of 59o30′N\n18 cm\nSole\n(Solea spp.)\n1\n0,5 and over\n—\n1\n24 cm\n2\n0,33 to 0,5\n2\n24 cm\n3\n0,25 to 0,33\n24 cm\n4\n0,17 to 0,25\n3\n24 cm\n5\n0,12 to 0,17\nMediterranean\n20 cm\n1\n0,5 and over\n2\n0,33 to 0,5\n3\n0,25 to 0,35\n4\n0,2 to 0,25\n5\n0,12 to 0,2\nFrostfish\n(Lepidopus caudatus)\n1\n3 and over\n—\n—\n2\n2 to 3\n3\n1 to 2\n4\n0,5 to 1\nBlack scabbardfish\n(Aphanopus carbo)\n1\n3 and over\n—\n2\n0,5 to 3\nCuttlefish\n(Sepia officinalis and Rossia macrosoma)\n1\n0,5 and over\n—\n—\n2\n0,3 to 0,5\n3\n0,1 to 0,3\nNorway lobster\n(Nephrops norvegicus)\n1\n—\n20 and less\n2\nSkagerrak and Kattegat\n40 mm\n2\n21 to 30\n130 mm\n3\n31 to 40\n2\nexcept Scotland\nIrish Sea\n25 mm\n4\nover 40\n[ICES VIa) and VIIa)],Skagerrak and Kattegat\n85 mm\n2\nWestern Scotland and Irish Sea\n20 mm\n[ICES VIa) and VIIa)]\n70 mm\n3\n20 mm\n70 mm\nMediterranean\n20 mm\n70 mm\nNorway lobster tails\n1\n—\n60 and less\n2\nSkagerrak and Kattegat\n72 mm\n2\n61 to 120\n3\n121 to 180\n2\nexcept Western Scotland, Irish Sea\n46 mm\n4\nover 180\n[ICES VIa) and VIIa)], Skagerrak and Kattegat\n2\nWestern Scotland and Irish Sea [ICES VIa) and VIIa)]\n37 mm\n3\n37 mm\nCrangonid shrimps\n(Crangon crangon)\n1\n6,8 mm and over\n—\n—\n2\n6,5 mm and over\nPandalid shrimps\n(Pandalus borealis)\nfresh or chilled\nOne size\n—\n250 and less\n—\nPandalid shrimps boiled or steamed\n1\n—\n160 and less\n—\n2\n161 to 250\nEdible crab\n(Cancer pagurus)\n1\n16 cm and over\n—\n—\n2\n13 to 16 cm\n20Laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p.1). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1298/2000 (OJ L 148, 22.6.2000, p. 1).\nLaid down in Regulation (EC) No 1626/94.\nShell width, measured at the widest point.\nScale of weights\nMinimum sizes to be observed in the conditions laid down in the Regulations referred to in Article 7\nSpecies\nSize\nKg/fish or shell size\nNumber of fish/kg\nRegion\nGeographical area\nMinimum size\nCommon scallop\n(Pecten maximus)\none size\n10 cm and over\nRegions 1 to 5 except Skagerrak/Kattegat and except ICES VIIa north of 52 o 30' N and VIId\n100 mm\nICES VIIa north of 52 o 30' N and VIId\n110 mm\nCommon whelk\n(Buccinum undatum)\none size\n4,5 cm and over\nRegions 1 to 5 except Skagerrak/Kattegat\n45 mm\nStriped or red mullet\n(Mullus surmuletus, Mullus barbatus)\n1\n500 g and over\n2\n200 g 500 g exclusive\n3 a\n40 g to 200 g exclusive\nMediterranean\n3 b\n18 g to 200 g exclusive\nMediterranean\n11 cm\nBlack sea bream\n(Spondyliosoma cantharus)\n1\n800 g and over\n2\n500 g to 800 g exclusive\n3\n300 g to 500 g exclusive\n4\n180 g to 300 g exclusive\nScale of weights\nMinimum sizes to be observed in the conditions laid down in the Regulations referred to in Article 7\nSpecies\nSize\nKg/fish\nNo of fish/kg\nRegion\nGeographical area\nMinimum size\nSprat\n( Sprattus sprattus )\n1\n0,004 and over\n250 or less",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Annex 2 table heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 20(10); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Substituted by Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Inserted by Council Regulation (EC) No 2578/2000 of 17 November 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 790/2005 of 25 May 2005 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "The categories of weights include fish from the lower limit up to, but excluding, the upper limit."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "For mackerel of both species, number of fish/25 kg."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Except Skagerrak and Kattegat."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "Skagerrak and Kattegat."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f5",
      "text": "This table shall apply until 31 December 1997."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f6",
      "text": "This table shall apply from 1 January 1998."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f7",
      "text": "Length of shell."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f8",
      "text": "Overall length."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f9",
      "text": "Width of shell."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f10",
      "text": "Width of shell at the widest point."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f11",
      "text": "Shell width, measured at the widest point."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f12",
      "text": "20Laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p.1). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1298/2000 (OJ L 148, 22.6.2000, p. 1)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f13",
      "text": "Laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1626/94."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1996/2406/annex/II",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:58:58.326793+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}