Lobster and crab sizing question...

Does anyone know where I can find a simple guide (UK) to the sizes of
lobsters, edible crabs and crayfish that divers are allowed to take? I want
to create a ruler or something similar on the boat. Might even tape marks on
my contents gauge hose.

Thanks,

M.

HI,

the minimun size chages in differnt parts of the coast line. The table below
is for the North West region.

There are often local byelaws which tell you what to take and not to take
etc.

HTH

Scientific Name
Common Name
Min Size (mm)

Chelon labrosus Grey Mullet 200
Clupea harengus Herring 200
Conger conger Conger eel 580
Dicentrarchus labrax Bass 360
Gadus morhua Cod 350
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Witch 280
Lepidorhombus spp Megrim 200
Limanda limanda Dab 150
Melanogrammus aeglefinus Haddock 300
Merlangius merlangus Whiting 270
Merluccius merluccius Hake 270
Microstomus kitt Lemon Sole 250
Molva dypterygia Blue Ling 700
Molva molva Ling 630
Mullus surmuletus Red mullet 150
Pagellus bogaraveo Red Sea Bream 250
Platichthys flesus Flounder 250
Pleuronectes platessa Plaice 270
Pollachius pollachius Pollack 300
Pollachius virens Saithe / Coalfish 350
Psetta maxima Turbot 300
Sardina pilchardus Sardine 110
Scomber scombrus Mackerel 200
Scophthalmus rhombus Brill 300
Solea solea Sole 240
Spondyliosoma cantharus Black Sea Bream 230
Thunnus thynnus Bluefin tuna 6.4kg or
700
Trachurus trachurus Horse Mackerel 150
Xiphias gladius Swordfish 25kg or
1250 mm lower mandible
Aequipecten opercularis Queen scallop 40*
Buccinum undatum Whelk 45*
Callista chione Hard clam 60
Cancer pagurus Edible crab 130
Cerastoderma edule Cockle Shall not pass through a square opening of
20mm
Donax spp Donax clam 25
Ensis spp Razor clam 100*
Homarus gammarus Lobster 87
Liocarcinus puber Velvet crab 65
Maia squinado Spider crab 120
Mytilus edulis Mussel 45*
Nephrops norvegicus Nephrops 70 total length
20?
Octopus vulgaris Octopus 750g
Palinurus spp. Crawfish 95
Parapenaeus longirostris Deepwater rose shrimp 22
Pecten maximus Scallop 100* south of 52º30'N outside 3 mile limit.
110* elsewhere
Pharus legumen Bean solen 65*
Ruditapes decussatus Grooved carpet shell 40
Ruditapes phillipinarum Short necked clam 40
Spisula solidissima Surf clam 25
Venerupis pallustra Carpetshell 38
Venus verrucosa Clam 40


Now in South Wales its

FISH / SHELLFISH MINIMUM SIZES ETC

3. LOBSTER - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 14/04/98
No person shall take or otherwise remove from any part of a fishery within
the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any lobster (Homarus
gammarus) of less than 90 mm carapace length. The carapace shall be measured
parallel to the mid line of either eye socket to the distal edge of the
carapace (body shell). Lobsters of below this size shall be returned
immediately to the sea at a position as nearby as is possible from where
they were taken.

4. LOBSTER MAXIMUM SIZE (Welsh Office confirmation awaited)

5. PROTECTION OF V-NOTCHED LOBSTERS confirmed 14/4/98
No person shall fish for or take any V-notched or mutilated lobster of the
species Hommarus gammarus. Any lobster so marked shall be returned
immediately to the sea.

For the purpose of this byelaw:

'V-notch' means an indentation in the shape of the letter 'v' made in any
one or more of the five flaps of the tail fan of the lobster.

'Mutilated lobster' means any lobster which has any of the five flaps of the
tail fan missing or mutilated in such a manner that could hide or obliterate
a V-notch.

'Flap' means any part of the five flaps of the tail fan of the lobster.

6. CRABS - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 4/12/97

No person shall take or otherwise remove from any part of a fishery within
the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any crab of the species
Cancer pagurus, which measures less than 140 mm across the broadest part of
the back. Crabs of below this size shall be returned immediately to the sea
at a position as nearby as is possible from where they were taken.

7. CRAWFISH - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 4/12/97
No person shall take or otherwise remove from a fishery within any part of
the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any Crawfish (Palinurus
elephas) with a length of less than 110 millimetres being the length
measured along the centre line of the carapace (body shell) from the tip of
the central rostral spine to the distal edge of the carapace.

Crawfish of below this size shall be returned immediately to the sea at a
position as nearby as is possible from where they were taken.

"McBad" <mcbad@NOSPAMglobalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bZidnV5HWdsOWE_fRVnytw@brightview.co.uk...
> Does anyone know where I can find a simple guide (UK) to the sizes of
> lobsters, edible crabs and crayfish that divers are allowed to take? I
want
> to create a ruler or something similar on the boat. Might even tape marks
on
> my contents gauge hose.
>
> Thanks,
>
> M.
>
>
>
>

In article <bZidnV5HWdsOWE_fRVnytw@brightview.co.uk>,
McBad <mcbad@NOSPAMglobalnet.co.uk> wrote:
>Does anyone know where I can find a simple guide (UK) to the sizes of
>lobsters, edible crabs and crayfish that divers are allowed to take? I want
>to create a ruler or something similar on the boat. Might even tape marks on
>my contents gauge hose.

Google found this:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/newsrel/1999/990312a.htm

Gordon

"McBad" <mcbad@NOSPAMglobalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bZidnV5HWdsOWE_fRVnytw@brightview.co.uk...
> Does anyone know where I can find a simple guide (UK) to the sizes of
> lobsters, edible crabs and crayfish that divers are allowed to take? I
want
> to create a ruler or something similar on the boat. Might even tape marks
on
> my contents gauge hose.
>
> Thanks,
>
> M.
>
>
Use the guide provided by Francis to make a crab hook, making the cranked
end the same length as the minimum keep size, then you can gauge in safety.
The use of a marked HP hose would be interesting :o)

Have a look at the spearfishing pages on www.portlandoceaneering.co.uk
there's some fish & lobster size info there.

AG

"Francis Phillips" <francis_phillips@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:UMAAe.21830$bh1.806@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
> HI,
>
> the minimun size chages in differnt parts of the coast line. The table
below
> is for the North West region.
>
> There are often local byelaws which tell you what to take and not to take
> etc.
>
> HTH
>
> Scientific Name
> Common Name
> Min Size (mm)
>
> Chelon labrosus Grey Mullet 200
> Clupea harengus Herring 200
> Conger conger Conger eel 580
> Dicentrarchus labrax Bass 360
> Gadus morhua Cod 350
> Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Witch 280
> Lepidorhombus spp Megrim 200
> Limanda limanda Dab 150
> Melanogrammus aeglefinus Haddock 300
> Merlangius merlangus Whiting 270
> Merluccius merluccius Hake 270
> Microstomus kitt Lemon Sole 250
> Molva dypterygia Blue Ling 700
> Molva molva Ling 630
> Mullus surmuletus Red mullet 150
> Pagellus bogaraveo Red Sea Bream 250
> Platichthys flesus Flounder 250
> Pleuronectes platessa Plaice 270
> Pollachius pollachius Pollack 300
> Pollachius virens Saithe / Coalfish 350
> Psetta maxima Turbot 300
> Sardina pilchardus Sardine 110
> Scomber scombrus Mackerel 200
> Scophthalmus rhombus Brill 300
> Solea solea Sole 240
> Spondyliosoma cantharus Black Sea Bream 230
> Thunnus thynnus Bluefin tuna 6.4kg or
> 700
> Trachurus trachurus Horse Mackerel 150
> Xiphias gladius Swordfish 25kg or
> 1250 mm lower mandible
> Aequipecten opercularis Queen scallop 40*
> Buccinum undatum Whelk 45*
> Callista chione Hard clam 60
> Cancer pagurus Edible crab 130
> Cerastoderma edule Cockle Shall not pass through a square opening of
> 20mm
> Donax spp Donax clam 25
> Ensis spp Razor clam 100*
> Homarus gammarus Lobster 87
> Liocarcinus puber Velvet crab 65
> Maia squinado Spider crab 120
> Mytilus edulis Mussel 45*
> Nephrops norvegicus Nephrops 70 total length
> 20?
> Octopus vulgaris Octopus 750g
> Palinurus spp. Crawfish 95
> Parapenaeus longirostris Deepwater rose shrimp 22
> Pecten maximus Scallop 100* south of 52º30'N outside 3 mile limit.
> 110* elsewhere
> Pharus legumen Bean solen 65*
> Ruditapes decussatus Grooved carpet shell 40
> Ruditapes phillipinarum Short necked clam 40
> Spisula solidissima Surf clam 25
> Venerupis pallustra Carpetshell 38
> Venus verrucosa Clam 40
>
>
> Now in South Wales its
>
> FISH / SHELLFISH MINIMUM SIZES ETC
>
> 3. LOBSTER - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 14/04/98
> No person shall take or otherwise remove from any part of a fishery within
> the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any lobster (Homarus
> gammarus) of less than 90 mm carapace length. The carapace shall be
measured
> parallel to the mid line of either eye socket to the distal edge of the
> carapace (body shell). Lobsters of below this size shall be returned
> immediately to the sea at a position as nearby as is possible from where
> they were taken.
>
> 4. LOBSTER MAXIMUM SIZE (Welsh Office confirmation awaited)
>
> 5. PROTECTION OF V-NOTCHED LOBSTERS confirmed 14/4/98
> No person shall fish for or take any V-notched or mutilated lobster of the
> species Hommarus gammarus. Any lobster so marked shall be returned
> immediately to the sea.
>
> For the purpose of this byelaw:
>
> 'V-notch' means an indentation in the shape of the letter 'v' made in any
> one or more of the five flaps of the tail fan of the lobster.
>
> 'Mutilated lobster' means any lobster which has any of the five flaps of
the
> tail fan missing or mutilated in such a manner that could hide or
obliterate
> a V-notch.
>
> 'Flap' means any part of the five flaps of the tail fan of the lobster.
>
> 6. CRABS - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 4/12/97
>
> No person shall take or otherwise remove from any part of a fishery within
> the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any crab of the species
> Cancer pagurus, which measures less than 140 mm across the broadest part
of
> the back. Crabs of below this size shall be returned immediately to the
sea
> at a position as nearby as is possible from where they were taken.
>
> 7. CRAWFISH - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 4/12/97
> No person shall take or otherwise remove from a fishery within any part of
> the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any Crawfish (Palinurus
> elephas) with a length of less than 110 millimetres being the length
> measured along the centre line of the carapace (body shell) from the tip
of
> the central rostral spine to the distal edge of the carapace.
>
> Crawfish of below this size shall be returned immediately to the sea at a
> position as nearby as is possible from where they were taken.
>
> "McBad" <mcbad@NOSPAMglobalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:bZidnV5HWdsOWE_fRVnytw@brightview.co.uk...
> > Does anyone know where I can find a simple guide (UK) to the sizes of
> > lobsters, edible crabs and crayfish that divers are allowed to take? I
> want
> > to create a ruler or something similar on the boat. Might even tape
marks
> on
> > my contents gauge hose.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > M.
> >
> >

Thanks all for the info. Maybe the marking up my contents gauge hose wasn't
such a smart idea. On rethinking this I'll probably put the marks on my
wife's contents gauge hose instead. ;o)

Cheers,

M