Species FAO code: NEP

Nephrops norvegicus

Nephrops norvegicus

© Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Conservation measures
Marketing standards
Species distribution and habitat
Species description
Combined Nomenclature

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Austria	de Kaisergranat de Norwegischer Tiefseehummer de Scampi de Tiefseekrebs	–
Belgium	fr Langoustine nl Langoestine	–
Bulgaria	bg Норвежки омар	–
Croatia	hr škamp	–
Cyprus	el αστακοκαραβίδα	–
Czech Republic	cs Humr cs Humr severský cs Humr štíhlý cs Langustýna severský cs Langustýna štíhlý	–
Denmark	da Jomfruhummer da dybvandshummer	–
Estonia	et Norra salehomaar	–
Finland	fi keisarihummeri sv havskräfta	–
France	fr langoustine	–
Germany	de Tiefseekrebs de Kaisergranat de Scampi de Norwegischer Tiefseehummer	–
Greece	el Καραβίδα	–
Hungary	hu norvég homár hu karcsú homár	–
Ireland	en Dublin Bay Prawns en Norway lobster en langoustine ga Gliomach na hIorua	–
Italy	it Scampo	–
Latvia	lv Norvēģijas omārs	–
Lithuania	lt norveginis omaras	–
Luxembourg	de Kaisergranat de Norwegischer Tiefseehummer de Scampi de Tiefseekrebs fr langoustine	–
Malta	en Norway lobster it Scampo mt Langostini mt Ragustelli mt Skampi	–
Netherlands	nl Noorse kreeft	–
Poland	pl Homarzec pl nerczan pl langustynka	–
Portugal	pt Lagostim	–
Romania	ro Langustina	–
Slovakia	sk homár štíhly	–
Slovenia	sl škamp	–
Spain	es Cigala	Balearic Islands: Escamarla Catalonia: Escamarlà Valencia: Escamarlà Basque Country: Maganto Basque Country: Zigala
Sweden	sv Havskräfta	–

Main production methods

Caught

Main fishing gears

Source: Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors. SeaLifeBase. Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Minimum conservation reference sizes

As defined in art. 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, which admends article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, where minimum conservation reference sizes are established, they shall constitute minimum marketing sizes. More

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 59.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas *

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

* Norway lobster tails

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 70.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

37.1 Western Mediterranean
37.2 Central Mediterranean
37.3 Eastern Mediterranean

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 32.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 85.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.5 Iceland and Faeroes Grounds (Subarea V)
27.6.b Rockall (Division VIb)
27.7.b West of Ireland (Division VIIb)
27.7.c Porcupine Bank (Division VIIc)
27.7.d Eastern English Channel (Division VIId)
27.7.e Western English Channel (Division VIIe)
27.7.f Bristol Channel (Division VIIf)
27.7.g Celtic Sea North (Division VIIg)
27.7.h Celtic Sea South ( Division VIIh)
27.7.j Southwest of Ireland / East (Division VIIj)
27.7.k Southwest of Ireland - West (Division VIIk)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 25.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

27.5 Iceland and Faeroes Grounds (Subarea V)
27.6.b Rockall (Division VIb)
27.7.b West of Ireland (Division VIIb)
27.7.c Porcupine Bank (Division VIIc)
27.7.d Eastern English Channel (Division VIId)
27.7.e Western English Channel (Division VIIe)
27.7.f Bristol Channel (Division VIIf)
27.7.g Celtic Sea North (Division VIIg)
27.7.h Celtic Sea South ( Division VIIh)
27.7.j Southwest of Ireland / East (Division VIIj)
27.7.k Southwest of Ireland - West (Division VIIk)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 70.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.6.a Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland or as the West of Scotland (Division VIa)
27.7.a Irish Sea (Division VIIa)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 20.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

27.6.a Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland or as the West of Scotland (Division VIa)
27.7.a Irish Sea (Division VIIa)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 46.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas *

27.5 Iceland and Faeroes Grounds (Subarea V)
27.6.b Rockall (Division VIb)
27.7.b West of Ireland (Division VIIb)
27.7.c Porcupine Bank (Division VIIc)
27.7.d Eastern English Channel (Division VIId)
27.7.e Western English Channel (Division VIIe)
27.7.f Bristol Channel (Division VIIf)
27.7.g Celtic Sea North (Division VIIg)
27.7.h Celtic Sea South ( Division VIIh)
27.7.j Southwest of Ireland / East (Division VIIj)
27.7.k Southwest of Ireland - West (Division VIIk)

* Norway lobster tails

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 37.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas *

27.6.a Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland or as the West of Scotland (Division VIa)
27.7.a Irish Sea (Division VIIa)

* Norway lobster tails

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 85.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

North Sea: the North Sea shall comprise ICES sub-area 4, the adjacent part of ICES Division 2a lying south of latitude 64° N, and that part of ICES Division 3a which is not covered by the definition of Skagerrak

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 25.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

North Sea: the North Sea shall comprise ICES sub-area 4, the adjacent part of ICES Division 2a lying south of latitude 64° N, and that part of ICES Division 3a which is not covered by the definition of Skagerrak

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 46.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas *

North Sea: the North Sea shall comprise ICES sub-area 4, the adjacent part of ICES Division 2a lying south of latitude 64° N, and that part of ICES Division 3a which is not covered by the definition of Skagerrak

* Norway lobster tails

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 70.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.8 Bay of Biscay (Subarea VIII)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
34.2 Northern Oceanic
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal
34.1.2 Canaries/Madeira Insular

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 20.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

27.8 Bay of Biscay (Subarea VIII)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
34.2 Northern Oceanic
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal
34.1.2 Canaries/Madeira Insular

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 37.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas *

27.8 Bay of Biscay (Subarea VIII)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
34.2 Northern Oceanic
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal
34.1.2 Canaries/Madeira Insular

* Norway lobster tails

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 105.0 mmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 20.0 mmCarapace length (CL)

Fishing areas

37.1 Western Mediterranean
37.2 Central Mediterranean
37.3 Eastern Mediterranean

TACs and quotas

Total allowable catches (TACs) or fishing opportunities, are catch limits (expressed in tonnes or numbers) that are set for most commercial fish stocks. TACs are set annually for most stocks (every two years for deep-sea stocks) by the Council of fisheries ministers. TACs are shared between EU countries in the form of national quotas. For each stock a different allocation percentage per EU country is applied for the sharing out of the quotas. Read more: TACs and quotas

Stocks (2021)

NEP/03A.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

TAC

12360.0 t

Union

12360.0 t

DE

26.0 t

DK

9084.0 t

SE

3250.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/04-N.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.4 North Sea (Subarea IV) Norwegian waters

TAC

Not relevant

Union

200.0 t

DK

200.0 t

DE

0.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/07.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.7 Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern and Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North and South, and Southwest of Ireland - East and West (Subarea VII)

TAC

18026.0 t

Union

11118.0 t

IE

6102.0 t

FR

4023.0 t

ES

993.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/08C.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.8.c Bay of Biscay / South (Division VIIIc)

TAC

2.4 t

Exclusively for catches taken as part of a sentinel fishery to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) data with vessels carrying observers on board

Union

2.4 t

Exclusively for catches taken as part of a sentinel fishery to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) data with vessels carrying observers on board

FR

0.0 t

Exclusively for catches taken as part of a sentinel fishery to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) data with vessels carrying observers on board

ES

2.4 t

Exclusively for catches taken as part of a sentinel fishery to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) data with vessels carrying observers on board

Stocks (2021)

NEP/2AC4-C

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.4 North Sea (Subarea IV) United Kingdom and Union waters
27.2.a Norwegian Sea (Division IIa) United Kingdom waters

TAC

19077.0 t

Union

2553.0 t

DE

15.0 t

BE

997.0 t

FR

29.0 t

NL

514.0 t

DK

997.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/5BC6.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.5.b Faeroes Grounds (Division Vb) United Kingdom and international waters
27.6 Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland, (the Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as the West of Scotland) (Subarea VI)

TAC

14945.0 t

Union

353.0 t

IE

202.0 t

FR

121.0 t

ES

30.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/8ABDE.

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

27.8.e West of Bay of Biscay (Division VIIIe)
27.8.b Bay of Biscay / Central (Division VIIIb)
27.8.a Bay of Biscay / North (Division VIIIa)
27.8.d Bay of Biscay / Offshore (Division VIIId)

TAC

3984.0 t

Union

3984.0 t

ES

239.0 t

FR

3745.0 t

Stocks (2021)

NEP/9/3411

Nephrops norvegicus

Fishing areas

34.1.1 Morocco Coastal Union waters
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)

TAC

374.0 t

Within the limits of the abovementioned TAC, no more than the following quantity may be taken in functional unit 30 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U30): 65 — Of which no more than 6% may be taken in functional units 26 and 27 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U267).

Union

374.0 t

Within the limits of the abovementioned TAC, no more than the following quantity may be taken in functional unit 30 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U30): 65 — Of which no more than 6% may be taken in functional units 26 and 27 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U267).

ES

94.0 t

Of which no more than 6% may be taken in functional units 26 and 27 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U267).

PT

280.0 t

Of which no more than 6% may be taken in functional units 26 and 27 of ICES division 9a (NEP/*9U267).

Specific requirements that fishery products marketed in the EU shall meet. They include freshness and size categories.

Freshness categories

	A	B	Extra
Smell	Loss of characteristic shellfish smell. No ammonia smell	Slightly sour	Characteristic mild shellfish smell
Eye and gills	Eyes dull and grey/black; gills greyish	Gills dark grey or some greenish colour on dorsal surface of shell	Shiny black eyes; pink gills
Shell	Pale pink or pink to orange-red; no black spots	Slight discoloration; some black spots and greyish colour, particularly on shell and between tail segments	Pale pink or pink to orange-red
Flesh (tail)	No longer translucent but not discoloured	Opaque and dull in appearance	Translucent and blue in colour tending towards white

Size categories

Size	Number of fish/kg
1	≤ 20.0
1 tails	≤ 60.0
2	≥ 21.0 \| ≤ 30.0
2 tails	≥ 61.0 \| ≤ 120.0
3	≥ 31.0 \| ≤ 40.0
3 tails	≥ 121.0 \| ≤ 180.0
4	≥ 40.0
4 tails	≥ 180.0

As defined in art. 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, which admends article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, where minimum conservation reference sizes are established, they shall constitute minimum marketing sizes. More

Habitat

Saltwater

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors. SeaLifeBase. Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution maps

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Nephrops norvegicus

Scientific name

Nephrops norvegicus

Author

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Rank

Species

FAO code

NEP

Taxonomic classification

PhylumArthropoda
- SubphylumCrustacea
  - ClassMalacostraca
    - OrderDecapoda
      - FamilyNephropidae
        GenusNephrops
        SpeciesNephrops norvegicus

Source: Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors. SeaLifeBase. Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

An annually revised goods classification scheme used in EU for the purposes of customs duty and foreign trade statistics. The scheme is based on the Harmonized System nomenclature, further extended with Community subdivisions. Each subdivision is identified by an eight-digit numerical code. Read more: Combined Nomenclature

03 — CHAPTER 3 - FISH AND CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 0306 — Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked crustaceans, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; crustaceans, in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water, whether or not chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; flours, meals and pellets of crustaceans, fit for human consumption
  - Frozen
    - 0306 15 — Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus)
      - 0306 15 10 — Smoked, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process, not otherwise prepared
      - 0306 15 90 — Other
  - Not frozen
    - 0306 25 — Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus)
      - 0306 25 10 — Smoked, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process, not otherwise prepared
      - 0306 25 90 — Other
16 — CHAPTER 16 - PREPARATIONS OF MEAT, OF FISH OR OF CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS OR OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 1605 — Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved
  - 1605 30 — Lobster
    - 1605 30 10 — Lobster meat, cooked, for the manufacture of lobster butter or of lobster pastes, pâtés, soups or sauces
    - 1605 30 90 — Other

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