Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries Committee

Minimum Fish Sizes

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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     

Fin Fish - Minimum Sizes

Species
Centimetres
Measurement
Bass
36
From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin
Cod
35
From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin
Haddock
30
From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin
Herring
20

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Horse Mackrel
15

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Mackerel (North Sea)
30

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Mackerel (Other areas)
20

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Plaice
27

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Sole
24

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

Whiting
27

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

* Grey Mullet
30

From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin

* Skates & Rays
40
Across from wing tip to wing tip

* Skates & Rays

19

Detached wings

Shellfish - Minimum Sizes

Species
Centimetres
Measurement
Lobster
8.7
From rear of the eye socket to rear of the body shell
Crab (Cancer pag.)
13
Across the back
Velvet Crab
6.5
Across the back
Spider crab (male)
12
Length of carapace
 Spider crab (female)
13
Length of carapace
* Oysters
7
Ring size
* Cockles
1.6
Riddle size - distance between bars
Whelks
4.5
Shell length
Razor Clam
10
Across longest part of shell
Scallop
10
Across longest part of shell
Scallop (Area VIID)
11
Across longest part of shell
Queen Scallop
4
Across longest part of shell

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, Clam 4, Donax Clams 2.5, Hard Clam 5, Short necked Clam 4, Surf Clam 2.5, Carpetshell 4, Grooved Carpetshell 4, Norway Lobster 8.5/2.5/4.6, Crawfish 11

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.

Seed mussel surveys tender information

Kent & Essex SFC have received funding from Defras Fisheries Challenge Fund to study the mussel populations within our district.  The project breaks down into 3 main components

·         To assess when mussels spawn and how fast they grow within the district.

·         To complete a base line survey of the known mussel beds.

·         To implement best management practice used by other seed mussel stock managers.


As part of this project we are aiming to use the mussel bed in the Medway approaches as one of our sampling populations.  We would like to involve local fishermen in the survey work to sample the Medway bed throughout the year, and invite people to tender for the contract to complete this work. 

Best safety standards will be required (able to conform to Cefas safety requirements) and the skipper will help plan the detailed programme. The survey work will involve the use of a mussel dredge (of a commercial size) provided by the tenderer and the vessel used must possess a GPS navigator/plotter and a recording echo-sounder.

For more information please contact

Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries Committee
The Ice House

Military Road

Ramsgate

Kent

CT11 9LG

Tel: 01843 585310