Guidance

Processing, presentation and marketing information for fish

Updated 28 December 2023

This is a list of the most common processing methods and their presentation codes used in reporting catch information. A comprehensive list of all codes can be found in Annex I Tables 1& 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 404/2011.

0.1 Common presentation codes

This is a list of the most common presentation codes used in reporting catch information. A comprehensive list of all codes can be found in Annex I Table 1 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 404/2011.

Code Presentation Description
WHL Whole No processing
GUT Gutted All guts removed
GUH Gutted and headed Guts and head removed
GHT Gutted, headed and tailed Guts, head and tail removed
HEA Headed Heads removed
TAL Tail Tails only
WNG Wings Wings only
FIL Filleted Headed, gutted, tailed and bones removed resulting in two fillets from each fish
FIS Skinned fillets Processed as fillets with additionally the skin removed
CLA Claws Claws only
ROE Roe(s) Roes only

0.2 State of processing

This is a list of the processing codes used in reporting catch information, as shown at Annex I Table 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 404/2011.

Code State
ALI Alive
BOI Boiled
DRI Dried
FRE Fresh
FRO Frozen
SAL Salted

0.3 Common species to which Marketing Standards applies

This is a list of the most common species found in UK waters to which marketing standards regulation apply. For a full list of which fishery products this legislation applies see article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) 2406/96.

Species Scientific name
Anchovy Engraulis spp
Black sea bream Spondyliosoma cantharus
Cod Gadus morhua
Conger Conger conger
Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
Dab Limanda limanda
Edible crab Cancer pagarus
Flounder Platichthys flesus
Gurnard Trigla spp
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Hake Merluccius merluccius
Herring Clupea harengus
Horse mackerel Trachurus spp
Lemon sole Microstomus kitt
Ling Molva molva
Mackerel Scomber spp
Megrim Lepidorhombus spp
Mullet Mugil spp
Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa
Pollack Pollachius pollachius
Pouting Trisopterus luscus
Saithe (Coalfish) Pollachius virens
Sardine Sardina pilchardus
Scallop Pecten maximus
Sole Solea spp
Sprat Sprattus sprattus
Whelk Buccinum undatum
Whiting Merlangius merlangus

0.4 Marketing standards

The common marketing standards for certain fishery products with respect to size and freshness are shown below, for detailed guidelines including which fishery products this legislation applies see Council Regulation (EC) 2406/96.

Freshness Size
E: Extra 1 - 8 Size category
A: A 1 - 8 Size category
B: B 1 - 8 Size category
U: Ungraded 9 Ungraded

0.5 Destination of fish

Destination code Destination
BAI Bait
COV Carry Over
HCN Human Consumption
IND Industrial uses
WDR Withdrawn from the market