There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Celtic Sea and fishing is happening above FMSY. Some national managament measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Western English Channel and fishing is happening just above FMSY. Some national managament measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

In the Eastern English Channel, the stock is data limited. There is concern for both biomass and fishing pressure. Some national management measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

In the Western English Channel, there is concern for the stock level of brown crab and fishing pressure is just above the target. In the Southern IFCA District, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) of 140mm carapace width in this area, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or mandatory pot limits in place. Pot fishing is considered sustainable as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Celtic Sea and fishing is happening above FMSY. In the Devon & Severn IFCA district, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is an MCRS of 140mm for females and 160mm for males, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Around 40% of Devon and Severn IFCA is in an MPA. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Western English Channel and fishing is around FMSY. In the Devon & Severn IFCA district, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is an MCRS of 140mm for females and 160mm for males, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Around 40% of Devon and Severn IFCA is in an MPA. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level and concern for the fishing level of brown crab in the Central North Sea. In the Northumberland IFCA district, there are some management measures in place for this fishery, including an MCRS of 130mm and a pot limit of 800 pots per permit. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level in the Southern North Sea and fishing is happening outside safe limits. In the North East IFCA district, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a MCRS of 140mm carapace width in place, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

In the Eastern English Channel, the stock is data limited. There is concern for both biomass and fishing pressure. In the Kent & Essex IFCA district there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a MCRS of 130mm carapace width in place, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Celtic Sea and fishing is happening above FMSY. Some national managament measures are in place in Wales, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in the Western English Channel and fishing is around FMSY. In the Isles of Scilly IFCA district, management measures are not effective in managing the stock. There is an MCRS of 140mm for females and 160mm for males, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level and concern for the fishing level of brown crab in the Central North Sea. In the North East IFCA district, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a MCRS of 140mm carapace width in place, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in Wales in the Irish Sea, and no concern for fishing pressure. Some national managament measures are in place in Wales, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level in the Southern North Sea and fishing is happening outside safe limits. In the Kent & Essex IFCA district, there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a MCRS of 130mm carapace width in place, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

In the Eastern English Channel, the stock is data limited. There is concern for both biomass and fishing pressure. In the Sussex IFCA district, management measures are in place but are not fully effective in managing the stock. There is a pot limit in place of 300 pots per vessel within the 3 nautical mile limit, and a total maximum of 600 pots within the 6 nautical mile limit. There is also a minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) of 140mm carapace width. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in England in the Irish Sea, and no concern for fishing pressure. Some national managament measures are in place in England, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

This rating is currently under review.

This stock is data limited. There is concern for the biomass due to a decline in the abundance index, and concern for fishing pressure as F is above FMSY in all areas where data is available (for either males, females, or both). There is a minimum size in place for this fishery however, there is no limit on creel numbers, no spatial controls and no total allowable catch in place. Management would benefit from effort controls that are responsive to the state of the stock. Potting, or creeling, for brown crab has minimal impact.Rating last updated June 2023.

There is concern for biomass, and no concern for fishing pressure of brown crab in the Isle of Man. Management of the stock is partially effective and effort limits are in place, including a vessel pot limit. However, measures are not responsive to stock status and therefore do not adequately control the fishery to prevent overexploitation. Crab pots have low seabed impacts when deployed and retrieved correctly. They are also selective towards larger individuals, and can mitigate bycatch through escape panels.Rating last updated October 2025.

This stock is data limited. There is no concern for the biomass and no concern for fishing pressure. This fishery has been MSC certified since 2012. It is well managed with a pot limit and effective harvest control rules in place. Potting, or creeling, for brown crab, has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2023.

There is concern for the stock level of brown crab in England in the Irish Sea, and no concern for fishing pressure. Some national managament measures are in place in England, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/crab-brown-edible.php

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/crab-brown-edible.php

This stock is data limited. There is concern for the biomass due to a decline in the abundance index, and concern for fishing pressure as F is above FMSY in all areas where data is available (for either males, females, or both). There is a minimum size in place for this fishery however, there is no limit on creel numbers, no spatial controls and no total allowable catch in place. Management would benefit from effort controls that are responsive to the state of the stock. Entanglement rates in creel fisheries on the west coast are possibly contributing to the decline or preventing the recovery of minke whales.Rating last updated June 2023.

There is concern for the stock level in the Southern North Sea and fishing is happening outside safe limits. Some national management measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

There is concern for the stock level and concern for the fishing level of brown crab in the Central North Sea. Some national managament measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed. Pot fishing is generally considered very low impact as it is selective for larger individuals and has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2024.

This stock is data limited. There is concern for the biomass due to a lack of biomass data, and concern for fishing pressure due to F being above FMSY for males and at FMSY for females. There is a minimum size in place for this fishery however, there is no limit on creel numbers, no spatial controls and no total allowable catch in place. Management would benefit from effort controls that are responsive to the state of the stock. Potting, or creeling, for brown crab has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.Rating last updated June 2023.

There is concern for both biomass and fishing pressure of brown crab in Northern Ireland. Management of brown crab in Northern Ireland requires considerable improvement, with currently no effort limits in place. Crab pots have low seabed impacts when deployed and retrieved correctly. They are also selective towards larger individuals, and can mitigate bycatch through escape panels.Rating last updated October 2025.

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/crab-brown-edible.php

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/crab-brown-edible.php