# Council Regulation(EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products, Annex II: SIZE CATEGORIES

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

The categories of weights include fish from the lower limit up to, but excluding, the upper limit.
For mackerel of both species, number of fish/25 kg.
This table shall apply until 31 December 1997.
This table shall apply from 1 January 1998.
Width of shell.
Width of shell at the widest point.
Except Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Length of shell.
Overall length.
Scale of weights
Minimum sizes to be observed in accordance with conditions laid down in legislation specifying minimum conservation reference sizes for relevant fish
Species
Size
Kg/fish
Number of fish/kg
Region
Geographical area
Minimum size
Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus )
1
0,250 and over
4 or less
1
ICES Vb (EC zone)
20 cm
2
0,125 to 0,250
5 to 8
2
20 cm
3
0,085 to 0,125
9 to 11
(a)
18 cm
4(a)
0,050 to 0,085
12 to 20
3
(b)
20 cm
Baltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed, south of 59 o 30′
4(b)
0,036 to 0,085
12 to 27
Baltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed, north of 59 o 30′
4(c)
0,057 to 0,085
12 to 17
5
0,031 to 0,057
18 to 32
6
0,023 to 0,031
33 to 44
Baltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed in waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Estonia and Latvia
7(a)
0,023 to 0,036
28 to 44
7(b)
0,014 to 0,023
45 to 70
Baltic herring ( Clupea harengus ) caught and landed in the Gulf of Riga
8
0,010 to 0,014
71 to 100
Sardines
(Sardina pilchardus)
1
0,067 and over
15 or less
not yet fixed
2
0,042 to 0,067
16 to 24
3
a 0,028 to 0,042
25 to 35
4
0,015 to 0,028
36 to 67
Mediterranean
0,011 to 0,028
36 to 91
Spotted dogfish
(Scyliorhinus spp.)
1
2 and over
—
—
2
1 to 2
3
0,5 to 1
Piked dogfish
(Squalus acanthias)
1
2,2 and over
—
—
2
1 to 2,2
3
0,5 to 1
Redfish
(Sebastes spp.)
1
2 and over
—
—
2
0,6 to 2
3
0,35 to 0,6
Cod
(Gadus morhua)
1
7 and over
—
1
35 cm
2
4 to 7
2
35 cm
3
2 to 4
30 cm
4
1 to 2
3
35 cm
5
0,3 to 1
Baltic
South of 59o30′ N
35 cm
Saithe
(Pollachius virens)
1
5 and over
—
1
35 cm
2
3 to 5
2
35 cm
3
1,5 to 3
30 cm
4
0,3 to 1,5
3
35 cm
Baltic
South of 59o30′ N
30 cm
Haddock
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
1
1 and over
—
1
ICES Vb) (EC-zone)
30 cm
2
0,57 to 1
2
30 cm
3
0,37 to 0,57
27 cm
4
0,17 to 0,37
3
30 cm
Whiting
(Merlangius merlangus)
1
0,5 and over
—
1
27 cm
2
0,35 to 0,5
2
23 cm
3
0,25 to 0,35
23 cm
4
0,11 to 0,25
3
23 cm
Ling
(Molva spp.)
1
5 and over
—
1
—
2
3 to 5
2
not yet fixed
3
1,2 to 3
—
3
63 cm
Mackerel of the species Scomber scombrus Mediterranean
1
0,5 and over
50 or less
1
20 cm
2
0,2 to 0,5
51 to 125
2
Except North Sea
20 cm
3
0,1 to 0,2
126 to 250
North Sea
30 cm
0,08 to 0,2
126 to 325
3
20 cm
5
20 cm
Mediterranean
18 cm
Mackerel of the species Scomber japonicus
1
0,5 and over
—
—
2
0,25 to 0,5
3
0,14 to 0,25
4
0,05 to 0,14
Anchovy
(Engraulis spp.)
1
0,033 and over
30 or less
3
except ICES IXa)
12 cm
2
0,020 to 0,033
31 to 50
3
ICES IXa)
10 cm
3
0,012 to 0,020
51 to 83
Mediterranean
9 cm
4
0,008 to 0,012
84 to 125
Plaice
(Pleuronectes platessa)
1
0,6 and over
—
1
25 cm
2
0,4 to 0,6
2
25 cm
3
0,3 to 0,4
27 cm
4
0,15 to 0,3
North Sea
27 cm
3
25 cm
Baltic
subdivisions 22 to 25
25 cm
subdivisions 26 to 28
21 cm
subdivisions 29 South of 59o30′ N
18 cm
Hake
(Merluccius merluccius)
1
2,5 and over
—
1
30 cm
2
1,2 to 2,5
2
30 cm
3
0,6 to 1,2
30 cm
4
0,28 to 0,6
3
27 cm
5
0,2 to 0,28
Mediterranean
20 cm
Mediterranean
0,15 to 0,28
Megrim
(Lepidorhombus spp.)
1
0,45 and over
—
1
25 cm
2
0,25 to 0,45
2
25 cm
3
0,20 to 0,25
25 cm
4
0,11 to 0,20
3
20 cm
Mediterranean
0,05 to 0,20
Ray's bream
(Brama spp.)
1
0,8 and over
—
—
2
0,2 to 0,8
Anglerfish
(Lophius spp.)
whole, gutted
1
8 and over
—
1
—
2
4 to 8
2
not yet fixed
3
2 to 4
—
4
1 to 2
3
not yet fixed
5
0,5 to 1
Mediterranean
30 cm
Anglerfish
(Lophius spp.)
head removed
1
4 and over
—
—
2
2 to 4
3
1 to 2
4
0,5 to 1
5
0,2 to 0,5
Dab
(Limanda limanda)
1
0,25 and over
—
1
15 cm
2
0,13 to 0,25
2
15 cm
23 cm
North Sea
23 cm
3
23 cm
Lemon sole
(Microstomus kitt)
1
0,6 and over
—
1
25 cm
2
0,35 to 0,6
2
25 cm
3
0,18 to 0,35
25 cm
3
25 cm
Albacore or long-finned tuna
(Thunnus alalunga)
1
4 and over
—
—
2
1,5 to 4
Blue-fin tuna
(Thunnus thynnus)
1
70 and over
—
Mediterranean
70 cm or 6,4 kg
2
50 to 70
3
25 to 50
4
10 to 25
5
6,4 to 10
Big-eye tuna
(Thunnus obesus)
1
10 and over
—
—
2
3,2 to 10
Pollack
(Pollachius pollachius)
1
5 and over
—
1
—
2
3 to 5
2
30 cm
3
1,5 to 3
—
4
0,3 to 1,5
3
30 cm
Blue whiting
(Micromesistius poutassou or Gadus poutassou)
1
—
7 or less
—
2
8 to 14
3
15 to 25
4
26 to 30
Pouting
(Trisopterus luscus)
and Poor cod
(Trisopterus minutus)
1
0,4 and over
—
3
not yet fixed
2
0,25 to 0,4
3
0,125 to 0,25
4
0,05 to 0,125
Boghe
(Boops boops)
1
—
5 or less
—
2
6 to 31
3
32 to 70
Picarel
(Maena sararis)
1
—
20 or less
—
2
21 to 40
3
41 to 90
Conger eel
(Conger conger)
1
7 and over
—
1
—
2
5 to 7
2
58 cm
3
0,5 to 5
—
3
58 cm
Gurnard
(Trigla spp.)
Tub gurnard
1
1 and over
—
—
2
0,4 to 1
3
0,2 to 0,4
4
0,06 to 0,2
Other Gurnard
1
0,25 and over
2
0,2 — 0,25
Horse mackerel
(Trachurus spp.)
1
0,6 and over
—
1
15 cm
2
0,4 to 0,6
2
15 cm
3
0,2 to 0,4
3
15 cm
4
0,08 to 0,2
5
15 cm
5
0,02 to 0,08
Mediterranean
12 cm
Mullet
(Mugil spp.)
1
1 and over
—
1
—
2
0,5 to 1
2
20 cm
3
0,2 to 0,5
—
4
0,1 to 0,2
3
20 cm
Mediterranean
16 cm
Skate
(Raja spp.)
1
5 and over
—
—
2
3 to 5
3
1 to 3
4
0,3 to 1
Skate
(wings)
1
3 and over
—
—
2
0,5 to 3
Flounder
(Platichthys Flesus)
1
over 0,3
—
1
24 cm
2
0,2 to 0,3 inclusive
2
24 cm
24 cm
3
24 cm
Baltic
subdivisions 22-25
25 cm
subdivisions 26-28
21 cm
subdivisions 29-32 South of 59o30′N
18 cm
Sole
(Solea spp.)
1
0,5 and over
—
1
24 cm
2
0,33 to 0,5
2
24 cm
3
0,25 to 0,33
24 cm
4
0,17 to 0,25
3
24 cm
5
0,12 to 0,17
Mediterranean
20 cm
1
0,5 and over
2
0,33 to 0,5
3
0,25 to 0,35
4
0,2 to 0,25
5
0,12 to 0,2
Frostfish
(Lepidopus caudatus)
1
3 and over
—
—
2
2 to 3
3
1 to 2
4
0,5 to 1
Black scabbardfish
(Aphanopus carbo)
1
3 and over
—
2
0,5 to 3
Cuttlefish
(Sepia officinalis and Rossia macrosoma)
1
0,5 and over
—
—
2
0,3 to 0,5
3
0,1 to 0,3
Norway lobster
(Nephrops norvegicus)
1
—
20 and less
2
Skagerrak and Kattegat
40 mm
2
21 to 30
130 mm
3
31 to 40
2
except Scotland
Irish Sea
25 mm
4
over 40
[ICES VIa) and VIIa)],Skagerrak and Kattegat
85 mm
2
Western Scotland and Irish Sea
20 mm
[ICES VIa) and VIIa)]
70 mm
3
20 mm
70 mm
Mediterranean
20 mm
70 mm
Norway lobster tails
1
—
60 and less
2
Skagerrak and Kattegat
72 mm
2
61 to 120
3
121 to 180
2
except Western Scotland, Irish Sea
46 mm
4
over 180
[ICES VIa) and VIIa)], Skagerrak and Kattegat
2
Western Scotland and Irish Sea [ICES VIa) and VIIa)]
37 mm
3
37 mm
Crangonid shrimps
(Crangon crangon)
1
6,8 mm and over
—
—
2
6,5 mm and over
Pandalid shrimps
(Pandalus borealis)
fresh or chilled
One size
—
250 and less
—
Pandalid shrimps boiled or steamed
1
—
160 and less
—
2
161 to 250
Edible crab
(Cancer pagurus)
1
16 cm and over
—
—
2
13 to 16 cm
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).
Laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1626/94.
Shell width, measured at the widest point.
Scale of weights
Minimum sizes to be observed in the conditions laid down in the Regulations referred to in Article 7
Species
Size
Kg/fish or shell size
Number of fish/kg
Region
Geographical area
Minimum size
Common scallop
(Pecten maximus)
one size
10 cm and over
Regions 1 to 5 except Skagerrak/Kattegat and except ICES VIIa north of 52 o 30' N and VIId
100 mm
ICES VIIa north of 52 o 30' N and VIId
110 mm
Common whelk
(Buccinum undatum)
one size
4,5 cm and over
Regions 1 to 5 except Skagerrak/Kattegat
45 mm
Striped or red mullet
(Mullus surmuletus, Mullus barbatus)
1
500 g and over
2
200 g 500 g exclusive
3 a
40 g to 200 g exclusive
Mediterranean
3 b
18 g to 200 g exclusive
Mediterranean
11 cm
Black sea bream
(Spondyliosoma cantharus)
1
800 g and over
2
500 g to 800 g exclusive
3
300 g to 500 g exclusive
4
180 g to 300 g exclusive
Scale of weights
Minimum sizes to be observed in the conditions laid down in the Regulations referred to in Article 7
Species
Size
Kg/fish
No of fish/kg
Region
Geographical area
Minimum size
Sprat
( Sprattus sprattus )
1
0,004 and over
250 or less

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1996/2406/annex/II (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1996-2406/annex-II
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.