Minimum legal sizes
ALL FISH BELOW THESE SIZES MUST BE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SEA
Council Regulation (EEC) 850/98, Statutory Instruments
* Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaws
Unless specified all measurements apply to the dimension of length. Additional information regarding the method of measurement should be referred to if necessary.
| Finfish |
Minimum Landing Size | Avg. Breeding Size |
| BASS | 42 cm | 46 cm |
| COD | 35 cm | 60 cm |
| HADDOCK | 30 cm | 40 cm |
| HERRING | 20 cm | |
| HORSE MACKEREL | 15 cm | 30 cm |
| MACKEREL (North Sea) | 30 cm | 34 cm |
| MACKEREL (Other Areas) | 20 cm | 34 cm |
| SOLE | 24 cm | 35 cm |
| PLAICE | 27 cm | 35 cm |
| WHITING | 27 cm | 30 cm |
| GREY MULLET* | 30 cm | 47 cm |
| SKATES & RAYS (Wing tip to wing tip) | 40 cm | 41 cm |
| SKATES & RAYS (Detached wings) | 19 cm | N/A |
| Eel | Do Not Keep | |
| Tope | Do Not Keep |
| Crustacea | ||
| LOBSTER (Homarus gammarus) | 87 mm | carapace length |
| EDIBLE CRAB (Cancer pagurus) | 130 mm | carapace width |
| VELVET CRAB (Necora puber) | 65 mm | carapace width |
| SPIDER CRAB (Maia squinado) | 130 mm (males)120 mm (females) | carapace lengthcarapace length |
| CRAWFISH (Palinurus spp.) | 95 mm | carapace length |
Minimum sizes for less common species are as follows (cm):-
Anchovy 12, Bluefin Tuna 6.4kg, Blue Ling 70, Hake 27, Ling 63, Megrim 20, Octopus 0.75kg, Pollack 30, Saith 35, Sardine 11, Swordfish 25kg/125cm
Minimum sizes for molluscs may be found in the Regulations pages
Undersized marine organisms shall not be retained on board or be transhipped, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately into the sea