Undersized marine catch
It is mandatory to land all catch that comes into the fishing gear of fishing vessels.
Recording of undersized catch
The recording of undersized catch counts as half towards the catch quota, up to a maximum of 10% of the species in question per fishing trip.
Undersized catch must be kept separate from the vessel's other catch and must be weighed separately by a certified weigher.
The captain of the fishing vessel must ensure that correct and sufficient information about the catch is provided to the harbour weigher.
The length criteria for undersized fish vary by species.
Length criteria for undersized catch
Species | Length criteria, undersize catch | Length criteria, headed undersize catch |
|---|---|---|
Cod | 50 cm | 27 cm |
Saithe | 50 cm | 31 cm |
Haddock | 45 cm | 26,5 cm |
Gold- and deepwater redfish | 33 cm | ----------------- |
Monitoring and sanctions
The Directorate of Fisheries monitors landings of undersized fish and, where appropriate, verifies that the undersized catch is below the reference limits and corrects the catch registration if this is not the case.
The Directorate of Fisheries' response to violations of the rules on undersized fish depends on the seriousness of the offence; repeated offence may lead to a vessel's commercial fishing permit being temporarily suspended.
Service provider
The Directorate of Fisheries