Guidance

List of common species codes for fish landed in the United Kingdom

Updated 28 December 2023

This list is the most common species caught and the associated Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations short code. The list is not a comprehensive list of all species. A full list of codes is available on the FAO website. Registered Buyers and Sellers (RBS) can also access a list on the Electronic Recording System (ERS) when entering sales information.

Species name Species code Scientific name
Anglerfishes nei ANF Lophiidae
Atlantic cod COD Gadus morhua
Atlantic halibut HAL Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Atlantic herring HER Clupea harengus
Atlantic horse mackerel HOM Trachurus trachurus
Atlantic mackerel MAC Scomber scombrus
Ballan wrasse USB Labrus bergylta
Black seabreamv BRB Spondyliosoma cantharus
Blonde ray RJH Raja brachyura
Brill BLL Scophthalmus rhombus
Catsharks, nursehounds nei SCL Scyliorhinus spp
Clams, etc. nei CLX Bivalvia
Common cuttlefish CTC Sepia officinalis
Common dab DAB Limanda limanda
Common edible cockle COC Cerastoderma edule
Common octopus OCC Octopus vulgaris
Common prawn CPR vPalaemon serratus
Common shrimp CSH Crangon crangon
Common sole SOL Solea solea
Cuckoo ray RJN Raja naevus
Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei CTL Sepiidae, Sepiolidae
Dogfishes and hounds nei DGH Squalidae, Scyliorhinidae
Edible crab CRE Cancer pagurus
European anchovy ANE Engraulis encrasicolus
European conger COE Conger conger
European flat oyster OYF Ostrea edulis
European flounder FLE Platichthys flesus
European hake HKE Merluccius merluccius
European lobster LBE Homarus gammarus
European pilchard(=Sardine) PIL Sardina pilchardus
European plaice PLE Pleuronectes platessa
European seabass BSS Dicentrarchus labrax
European smelt SME Osmerus eperlanus
European sprat SPR Sprattus sprattus
European squid SQR Loligo vulgaris
Garfish GAR Belone belone
Gilthead seabream SBG Sparus aurata
Great Atlantic scallop SCE Pecten maximus
Green crab CRG Carcinus maenas
Grey gurnard GUG Eutrigla gurnardus
Haddock HAD Melanogrammus aeglefinus
John dory JOD Zeus faber
Lemon sole LEM Microstomus kitt
Ling LIN Molva molva
Lumpfish(=Lumpsucker) LUM Cyclopterus lumpus
Manila clam CMM Corbicula manilensis
Megrim MEG Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
Megrims nei LEZ Lepidorhombus spp
Mullets nei MUL Mugilidae
Norway lobster NEP Nephrops norvegicus
Pacific cupped oyster OYG Crassostrea gigas
Periwinkles nei PER Littorina spp
Pollack POL Pollachius pollachius
Pouting(=Bib) BIB Trisopterus luscus
Queen scallop QSC Aequipecten opercularis
Rabbit fish CMO Chimaera monstrosa
Red gurnard GUR Aspitrigla cuculus
Saithe(Coalfish) POK Pollachius virens
Sand sole SOS Solea lascaris
Sandeels(=Sandlances) nei SAN Ammodytes spp
Sea trout TRS Salmo trutta
Shortfin squids nei ILL Illex spp
Small-eyed ray RJE Raja microocellata
Small-spotted catshark SYC Scyliorhinus canicula
Smooth-hound SMD Mustelus mustelus
Solen razor clams nei RAZ Solen spp
Spinous spider crab SCR Maja squinado
Spotted ray RJM Raja montagui
Starry smooth-hound SDS Mustelus asterias
Thornback ray RJC Raja clavata
Tope shark GAG Galeorhinus galeus
Tub gurnard GUU Chelidonichthys lucerna
Turbot TUR Psetta maxima
Undulate ray RJU Raja undulata
Velvet swimming crab LIO Necora puber
Whelk WHE Buccinum undatum
Whiting WHG Merlangius merlangus