FAO Codes
A unique three-letter code is assigned to each aquatic species by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Below is a list of the FAO alpha-3 codes used in Irish fishing logbooks between 2019 - 2023, and the corresponding species name and scientific name. This list is not a comprehensive list of all species, which can be found on the FAO website. Operators must ensure that they use the correct, specific FAO code when reporting and recording fishery products.
Table 1 – FAO Codes
FAO Code
|
Common Name
|
Latin Name
|
AAS
|
Noble crayfish
|
Astacus astacus
|
ABJ
|
Japanese abalone
|
Haliotis discus
|
AHD
|
Abythites lepidogenys
|
Abythites lepidogenys
|
ALB
|
Albacore
|
Thunnus alalunga
|
ALF
|
Alfonsinos nei
|
Beryx spp
|
ALV
|
Thresher
|
Alopias vulpinus
|
ANE
|
European anchovy
|
Engraulis encrasicolus
|
ANF
|
Anglerfishes nei
|
Lophiidae
|
ANK
|
Blackbellied Angler
|
Lophius budegassa
|
ANX
|
Anchovies, etc. nei
|
Engraulidae
|
ARG
|
Argentines
|
Argentina spp
|
ARU
|
Greater argentine
|
Argentina silus
|
ARW
|
Small-eyed goby
|
Austrolethops wardi
|
ARY
|
Argentine
|
Argentina sphyraena
|
AXZ
|
Gymnothorax spp
|
Gymnothorax spp
|
BET
|
Bigeye tuna
|
Thunnus obesus
|
BFT
|
Atlantic bluefin tuna
|
Thunnus thynnus
|
BHY
|
Bathyraja rays nei
|
Bathyraja spp
|
BIB
|
Pouting(=Bib)
|
Trisopterus luscus
|
BLI
|
Blue ling
|
Molva dypterygia
|
BLL
|
Brill
|
Scophthalmus rhombus
|
BOC
|
Boarfish
|
Capros aper
|
BOR
|
Boarfishes nei
|
Caproidae
|
BRA
|
Brama spp
|
Brama spp
|
BRB
|
Black Seabream
|
Spondyliosoma cantharus
|
BRF
|
Blackbelly Rosefish
|
Helicolenus dactylopterus
|
BSF
|
Black Scabbardfish
|
Aphanopus carbo
|
BSH
|
Blue Shark
|
Prionace glauca
|
BSS
|
European seabass
|
Dicentrarchus labrax
|
BUM
|
Blue Marlin
|
Makaira nigricans
|
BUT
|
Atlantic butterfish
|
Peprilus triacanthus
|
BXD
|
Alfonsino
|
Beryx decadactylus
|
BYS
|
Splendid alfonsino
|
Beryx splendens
|
CAA
|
Atlantic wolffish
|
Anarhichas lupus
|
CAB
|
Northern wolffish
|
Anarhichas denticulatus
|
CAS
|
Spotted wolffish
|
Anarhichas minor
|
CAT
|
Wolffishes(=Catfishes) nei
|
Anarhichas spp
|
CEO
|
Rudderfish
|
Centrolophus niger
|
CEP
|
Cephalopods nei
|
Cephalopoda
|
CET
|
Wedge Sole
|
Dicologlossa cuneata
|
CGZ
|
Conger eels nei
|
Conger spp
|
CKS
|
Shoulderspot grenadier
|
Coelorinchus scaphopsis
|
CLX
|
Clams, etc. nei
|
Bivalvia
|
CMO
|
Rabbit fish
|
Chimaera monstrosa
|
COC
|
Common edible cockle
|
Cerastoderma edule
|
COD
|
Atlantic cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
COE
|
European conger
|
Conger conger
|
COZ
|
Cockles nei
|
Cardiidae
|
CRE
|
Edible crab
|
Cancer pagurus
|
CRG
|
Green crab
|
Carcinus maenas
|
CRR
|
Red Crab
|
Chaceon quinquedens
|
CRW
|
Palinurid spiny lobsters nei
|
Palinurus spp
|
CSH
|
Common shrimp
|
Crangon crangon
|
CTC
|
Common cuttlefish
|
Sepia officinalis
|
CTL
|
Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei
|
Sepiidae, Sepiolidae
|
CUT
|
Hairtails, Scabbardfishes nei
|
Trichiuridae
|
CUX
|
Sea cucumbers nei
|
Holothuroidea
|
CXF
|
Redfish
|
Centroberyx affinis
|
DAB
|
Common dab
|
Limanda limanda
|
DGC
|
Triplecross lizardfish
|
Synodus macrops
|
DGH
|
Dogfishes and hounds nei
|
Squalidae, Scyliorhinidae
|
DGS
|
Picked Dogfish
|
Squalus acanthias
|
DGX
|
Dogfish Sharks nei
|
Squalidae
|
DGZ
|
Dogfishes nei
|
Squalus spp
|
DHG
|
Sharpnose Stingray
|
Himantura gerrardi
|
DPX
|
Demersal percomorphs nei
|
Perciformes
|
ECH
|
Echinoderms
|
Echinodermata
|
ELE
|
European eel
|
Anguilla anguilla
|
EOI
|
Horned octopus
|
Eledone cirrhosa
|
EPI
|
Black cardinal fish
|
Epigonus telescopus
|
EQE
|
Pod razor shell
|
Ensis ensis
|
EQI
|
Sword razor shell
|
Ensis siliqua
|
ETX
|
Velvet Belly
|
Etmopterus spinax
|
FIN
|
Finfishes nei
|
Osteichthyes
|
FLD
|
Windowpane flounder
|
Scophthalmus aquosus
|
FLE
|
European flounder
|
Platichthys flesus
|
FOR
|
Forkbeard
|
Phycis phycis
|
GAD
|
Gadiformes nei
|
Gadiformes
|
GAG
|
Tope shark
|
Galeorhinus galeus
|
GBF
|
Two-spotted goby
|
Gobiusculus flavescens
|
GDG
|
Silvery pout
|
Gadiculus argenteus
|
GEB
|
Ornate angelfish
|
Genicanthus bellus
|
GFB
|
Greater forkbeard
|
Phycis blennoides
|
GHL
|
Greenland halibut
|
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
|
GPD
|
Dusky grouper
|
Epinephelus marginatus
|
GRF
|
Southern Clingfish
|
Rimicola dimorpha
|
GRO
|
Groundfishes nei
|
Osteichthyes
|
GUG
|
Grey Gurnard
|
Eutrigla gurnardus
|
GUN
|
Piper Gurnard
|
Trigla lyra
|
GUR
|
Red Gurnard
|
Aspitrigla cuculus
|
GUU
|
Tub gurnard
|
Chelidonichthys lucerna
|
GUX
|
Gurnards, searobins nei
|
Triglidae
|
GUY
|
Gurnards nei
|
Trigla spp
|
HAD
|
Haddock
|
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
|
HAL
|
Atlantic halibut
|
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
|
HER
|
Atlantic Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
HKE
|
European hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
HKX
|
Hakes nei
|
Merluccius spp
|
HMM
|
Mediterranean horse mackerel
|
Trachurus mediterraneus
|
HNG
|
Black Sole
|
Achlyopa nigra
|
HOM
|
Atlantic horse mackerel
|
Trachurus trachurus
|
HXC
|
Frilled shark
|
Chlamydoselachus anguineus
|
HYD
|
Ratfishes nei
|
Hydrolagus spp
|
IAR
|
Pink cuttlefish
|
Sepia orbignyana
|
ILL
|
Shortfin squids nei
|
Illex spp
|
JAD
|
Norwegian skate
|
Raja nidarosiensis
|
JAX
|
Jack and horse mackerels nei
|
Trachurus spp
|
JDP
|
Common stingray
|
Dasyatis pastinaca
|
JOB
|
Belanger's croaker
|
Johnius belangerii
|
JOD
|
John dory
|
Zeus faber
|
KCY
|
Brown King Crab
|
Paralithodes brevipes
|
KEF
|
Deep-sea red crab
|
Chaceon affinis
|
KHE
|
Cucumaria japonica
|
Cucumaria japonica
|
LBE
|
European lobster
|
Homarus gammarus
|
LDB
|
Four-spot megrim
|
Lepidorhombus boscii
|
LEM
|
Lemon Sole
|
Microstomus kitt
|
LEZ
|
Megrims nei
|
Lepidorhombus spp
|
LHT
|
Largehead hairtail
|
Trichiurus lepturus
|
LIN
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
LIO
|
Velvet swimcrab
|
Necora puber
|
LNZ
|
Lings nei
|
Molva spp
|
LOQ
|
Craylets, squat lobsters nei
|
Galatheidae
|
LUM
|
Lumpfish(=Lumpsucker)
|
Cyclopterus lumpus
|
MAC
|
Atlantic Mackerel
|
Scomber scombrus
|
MAZ
|
Scomber mackerels nei
|
Scomber spp
|
MEG
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
|
MGC
|
Thinlip grey mullet
|
Liza ramada
|
MIX
|
Mixed fish
|
Osteichthyes nei.
|
MKG
|
Thickback sole
|
Microchirus variegatus
|
MNZ
|
Monkfishes nei
|
Lophius spp
|
MON
|
Angler(=Monk)
|
Lophius Piscatorius
|
MUA
|
Bobo mullet
|
Joturus pichardi
|
MUL
|
Mullets nei
|
Mugilidae
|
MUM
|
Goatfishes, red mullets nei
|
Mullidae
|
MUR
|
Surmullet
|
Mullus surmuletus
|
MUS
|
Blue mussel
|
Mytilus edulis
|
MUT
|
Red Mullet
|
Mullus barbatus
|
MUX
|
Surmullets(=Red mullets) nei
|
Mullus spp
|
MZZ
|
Marine Fishes nei
|
Osteichthyes
|
NCL
|
Short neck clams nei
|
Paphia spp
|
NEP
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops norvegicus
|
NOP
|
Norway pout
|
Trisopterus esmarkii
|
OCC
|
Common octopus
|
Octopus vulgaris
|
OCM
|
Horned and musky octopuses
|
Eledone spp
|
OCT
|
Octopuses, etc. nei
|
Octopodidae
|
OCZ
|
Octopuses nei
|
Octopus spp
|
OSG
|
Spectrunculus grandis
|
Spectrunculus grandis
|
OUL
|
European Common Squid
|
Alloteuthis subulata
|
OYF
|
European flat oyster
|
Ostrea edulis
|
OYG
|
Pacific cupped oyster
|
Crassostrea Gigas
|
OYX
|
Flat oysters nei
|
Ostrea spp
|
PAL
|
Palaemonid shrimps nei
|
Palaemonidae
|
PAN
|
Pandalus shrimps nei
|
Pandalus spp
|
PCR
|
Tanner crabs nei
|
Chionoecetes spp
|
PEN
|
Penaeus shrimps nei
|
Penaeus spp
|
PIL
|
European pilchard(=Sardine)
|
Sardina pilchardus
|
PLA
|
Amer. plaice(=Long rough dab)
|
Hippoglossoides platessoides
|
PLE
|
European plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
PLI
|
Smallscale yellowfin
|
Plagiognathops microlepis
|
PLZ
|
Righteye flounders nei
|
Pleuronectidae
|
POA
|
Atlantic pomfret
|
Brama brama
|
POK
|
Saithe(=Pollock)
|
Pollachius virens
|
POL
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
POR
|
Porbeagle
|
Lamna nasus
|
PRA
|
Northern prawn
|
Pandalus borealis
|
PSL
|
Pink Spiny Lobster
|
Palinurus mauritanicus
|
QSC
|
Queen scallop
|
Aequipecten opercularis
|
RAG
|
Indian Mackerel
|
Rastrelliger kanagurta
|
RAJ
|
Rays and skates nei
|
Rajidae
|
RED
|
Atlantic redfishes nei
|
Sebastes spp
|
REG
|
Golden redfish
|
Sebastes marinus
|
RHG
|
Roughhead grenadier
|
Macrourus berglax
|
RIB
|
Common mora
|
Mora moro
|
RJA
|
White skate
|
Raja alba
|
RJB
|
Blue skate
|
Raja batis
|
RJC
|
Thornback ray
|
Raja clavata
|
RJE
|
Small-eyed ray
|
Raja microocellata
|
RJF
|
Shagreen ray
|
Raja fullonica
|
RJG
|
Arctic skate
|
Raja hyperborea
|
RJH
|
Blonde ray
|
Raja brachyura
|
RJI
|
Sandy ray
|
Raja circularis
|
RJK
|
Sailray
|
Raja lintea
|
RJM
|
Spotted ray
|
Raja montagui
|
RJN
|
Cuckoo ray
|
Raja naevus
|
RJO
|
Longnosed skate
|
Raja oxyrinchus
|
RJR
|
Starry ray
|
Raja radiata
|
RJS
|
Smooth skate
|
Malacoraja senta
|
RJU
|
Undulate ray
|
Raja undulata
|
RJY
|
Round ray
|
Raja fyllae
|
RNG
|
Roundnose grenadier
|
Coryphaenoides rupestris
|
ROL
|
Rocklings nei
|
Gaidropsarus spp
|
RPG
|
Red porgy
|
Pagrus pagrus
|
RSE
|
Red scorpionfish
|
Scorpaena scrofa
|
SAN
|
Sandeels(=Sandlances) nei
|
Ammodytes spp
|
SBG
|
Gilthead seabream
|
Sparus aurata
|
SBR
|
Blackspot(=red) seabream
|
Pagellus bogaraveo
|
SBX
|
Porgies, seabreams nei
|
Sparidae
|
SCE
|
Great Atlantic scallop
|
Pecten maximus
|
SCL
|
Catsharks, nursehounds nei
|
Scyliorhinus spp
|
SCO
|
Scorpionfishes, redfishes nei
|
Scorpaenidae
|
SCR
|
Spinous spider crab
|
Maja squinado
|
SCX
|
Scallops nei
|
Pectinidae
|
SDS
|
Starry smooth-hound
|
Mustelus asterias
|
SDV
|
Smooth-hounds nei
|
Mustelus spp
|
SHR
|
Sharpsnout seabream
|
Diplodus puntazzo
|
SHX
|
Dogfish Sharks, etc. nei
|
Squaliformes
|
SKA
|
Raja rays nei
|
Raja spp
|
SKJ
|
Skipjack tuna
|
Katsuwonus pelamis
|
SKX
|
Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei
|
Elasmobranchii
|
SLI
|
Spanish ling
|
Molva macrophthalma
|
SLO
|
Common spiny lobster
|
Palinurus elephas
|
SMA
|
Shortfin mako
|
Isurus oxyrinchus
|
SMD
|
Smooth-hound
|
Mustelus mustelus
|
SOI
|
Razor clams, knife clams nei
|
Solenidae
|
SOL
|
Common sole
|
Solea solea
|
SOS
|
Sand Sole
|
Solea lascaris
|
SOX
|
Soles nei
|
Soleidae
|
SPI
|
Spinefeet(=Rabbitfishes) nei
|
Siganus spp
|
SPR
|
European sprat
|
Sprattus sprattus
|
SQC
|
Common squids nei
|
Loligo spp
|
SQE
|
European flying squid
|
Todarodes sagittatus
|
SQI
|
Northern shortfin squid
|
Illex illecebrosus
|
SQM
|
Broadtail shortfin squid
|
Illex coindetii
|
SQR
|
European squid
|
Loligo vulgaris
|
SQS
|
Sevenstar flying squid
|
Martialia hyadesi
|
SQU
|
Various squids nei
|
Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae
|
SQZ
|
Inshore squids nei
|
Loliginidae
|
SRX
|
Rays, Stingrays, Mantas nei
|
Rajiformes
|
SSD
|
Surf clams nei
|
Spisula spp
|
SVD
|
Rough jackknife
|
Solen rudis
|
SWM
|
Swimming crabs, etc. nei
|
Portunidae
|
SWO
|
Swordfish
|
Xiphias gladius
|
SYC
|
Small-spotted catshark
|
Scyliorhinus canicula
|
SYR
|
Knifetooth dogfish
|
Scymnodon ringens
|
SYT
|
Nursehound
|
Scyliorhinus stellaris
|
SYX
|
Catsharks, etc. nei
|
Scyliorhinidae
|
TJX
|
Atlantic thornyhead
|
Trachyscorpia cristulata
|
TUR
|
Turbot
|
Scophthalmus maximus
|
USB
|
Ballan wrasse
|
Labrus bergylta
|
USI
|
Cuckoo wrasse
|
Labrus mixtus
|
USK
|
Tusk(=Cusk)
|
Brosme brosme
|
VLO
|
Spiny Lobsters nei
|
Palinuridae
|
WEG
|
Greater weever
|
Trachinus draco
|
WHB
|
Blue whiting(=Poutassou)
|
Micromesistius poutassou
|
WHE
|
Whelk
|
Buccinum undatum
|
WHG
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangus
|
WHL
|
Lake(=Common) whitefish
|
Coregonus clupeaformis
|
WIT
|
Witch flounder
|
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
|
WRA
|
Wrasses, hogfishes, etc. nei
|
Labridae
|
WRF
|
Wreckfish
|
Polyprion americanus
|
ZEX
|
Dories nei
|
Zeidae
|