Minimum Sizes
The current minimum landing sizes of fish and shellfish within the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority district. The sizes apply both at sea and on the shoreline, for both commercial and recreational use. Any fish or shellfish below this size must be immediately returned to the sea.
Please note that there are two sets of additional minimum sizes; one that applies in the former North Western Sea Fisheries Committee district and one that applies in the former Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee District.
Recreational Bass Measures 2023
1st to 31st January – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
1st February to 31st March – Catch and release only
1st April to 31st December – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
No bass can be taken by fixed nets.
Handling Bass: Bass must be handled carefully to ensure a high survival rate of released fish. Anglers are advised to carry forceps or long-nosed pliers to assist removal of hooks and to support fish in the water until they are able to swim off.
Minimum Sizes that apply in the Whole District
These sizes apply throughout our district. Please note that additional size byelaws apply depending on whether you are in the former North Western Sea Fisheries Committee district or the former Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee District; these can be found below these tables.
Fish Species Table
| Fish Species | Minimum Size |
| Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) | 420 mm |
| Blue Ling (Molva dypterygia) | 700 mm |
| Cod (Gadus morhua) | 350 mm |
| Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) | 300 mm |
| Hake (Merluccius merluccius) | 270 mm |
| Herring (Clupea harengus) | 200 mm |
| Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) | 150 mm |
| Ling (Molva molva) | 630 mm |
| Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) | 200 mm |
| Megrim (Lepidorhombus sp.) | 200 mm |
| Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) | 270 mm |
| Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) | 300 mm |
| Red Seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) | 330 mm |
| Saithe/Coley (Pollachius virens) | 350 mm |
| Sole (Solea sp.) | 240 mm |
| Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) | 270 mm |
Shellfish Species Table
| Shellfish Species | Minimum Size |
| Bean Solen (Pharus legumen) | 65 mm* |
| Carpet shell (Venerupis pallustra) | 38 mm |
| Cockle (Cerastoderma edule) | Shall not pass through a square opening of 20 mm |
| Clam (Venus verrucosa) | 40 mm |
| Crawfish (Palinurus spp) | 95 mm |
| Deepwater Rose Shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) | 22 mm |
| Donax Clam (Donax sp.) | 25 mm |
| Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus) | 130 mm |
| Hard Clam (Callista chione) | 60 mm |
| Lobster (Homarus gammarus) | 87 mm |
| Mussel (Mytulis edulis) | 45 mm* |
| Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) | 20 mm carapace length or 70 mm total length |
| Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) | 750 g |
| Queen Scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) | 40 mm* |
| Razor Clam (Ensis sp.) | 100 mm* |
| Scallop (Pecten maximus) | 110 mm* |
| Spider Crab (Maia squinado) | 130 mm (Male) or 120 mm (Female) |
| Surf Clam (Spisula solidissima) | 25 mm |
| Velvet Crab (Liocarcinus puber) | 65 mm |
| Whelk (Buccinum undatum) | 55 mm* |
*Longest part of shell.
Minimum Sizes that apply in the former North Western Sea Fisheries Committee District
These sizes apply between the Welsh border in the Dee Estuary to Haverigg Point in Cumbria.
Fish Species Table
| Fish Species | Minimum Size |
| Black Seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) | 230 mm |
| Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) | 700 mm or 6.4 kg
Retention Prohibited |
| Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) | 300 mm |
| Conger Eel (Conger conger) | 580 mm |
| Dab (Limanda limanda) | 150 mm |
| Flounder (Platichthys flesus) | 250 mm |
| Grey Mullet (Chelon labrosus) | 200 mm |
| Lemon Sole (Microstomus kitt) | 250 mm |
| Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus) | 150 mm |
| Swordfish (Xiphius gladius) | 25 kg or lower mandible 1250 mmRetention Prohibited |
| Turbot (Psetta maxima) | 300 mm |
| Witch Flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) | 280 mm |
Shellfish Species Table
| Fish Species | Minimum Size |
| Short Necked Clam (Ruditapes phillippinarum) | 40 mm |
Minimum Sizes that apply in the former Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee District
These sizes apply from Haverigg Point in Cumbria to the Scottish border in the Solway Firth.
Fish Species Table
| Fish Species | Minimum Size |
| Ray | 45 cm between the extreme tips of the wings |
| Ray – Wings that have been detached from the body. | 22 cm in its maximum dimensions |
Shellfish Species Table
| Fish Species | Minimum Size |
| Winkle (Littorina littorea) | Shall not pass through a square opening of 16 mm |