Edible crab minimum size
The MMO have announced a harmonisation of the minimum sizes for Edible crab (Cancer pagurus, also called brown crab) and Lobster (Homarus gammarus) for the South West English waters.
From 1 February the minimum size that can be landed will be:
- 160 mm for male edible crabs
- 150 mm for female edible crabs
These new sizes match the already pre-existing Cornwall IFCA byelaw, meaning there are no changes when fishing in the Cornwall IFCA district and any Cornwall IFCA shellfish gauges you are using will still measure the legal minimum size.
Minimum brown crab size backed by South West fishermen – Fisheries Management Plans
Lobster minimum size
From 1 March 2026 the MMO and Defra will be introducing a new national minimum conservation reference size (MCRS), also known as the minimum landing size, for European lobster (Homarus gammarus ), increasing it from 87mm to 90mm. This again matches the pre-existing Cornwall IFCA minimum size, and, as before, any Cornwall IFCA shellfish gauges you are currently using will still measure the legal minimum size.
From 1 March 2026, the new MCRS for lobster will be:
Lobster size rules are changing – here’s what you need to know – Fisheries Management Plans