SFPA Publish New Online Guidance on Codes, Conversion Factors & Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new series of online guidance. These web pages provide comprehensive details on product codes, gear codes, conversion factors, and Minimum Conservation References Sizes (MCRSs). Access to this valuable resource is available https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Sea-Fisheries-Information/Useful-Codes-Conversion-Factors-MCRSs
Product and processing codes established in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 are three-letter codes describing the presentation and state of processing of fisheries products. The ‘Product Codes’ webpage offers a detailed list of these codes. For example, ‘WHL’ and ‘FRE’ are the codes for a whole fresh fish. Operators are required to use these specific codes when reporting the state of fisheries products.
Similarly, gear used in commercial fishing is reported using three-letter codes. The ‘Gear Codes’ webpage provides a list of gear types and their corresponding codes, as available on ieCatch V3, the current Irish electronic logbook software. These codes cover a range of commercial gear including trawls, seines, surrounding nets, gillnets and entangling nets, traps, hooks and lines, dredges and harvesting machines. Masters must ensure that they accurately record the gear code in their fishing logbook, selecting the one that correctly corresponds to the gear onboard when used during their fishing operation.
The webpage also includes conversion factors – figures essential for calculating the equivalent live-weight of processed products. Conversion factors are established in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011. The Conversion Factors webpage includes a comprehensive table of European conversion factors for fresh and frozen species that have been landed in Ireland. Furthermore, the 'MCRS' webpage outlines the Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes for species within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) is the size of a living marine aquatic species, taking into account maturity, as established by Union law, below which restrictions or incentives apply that aim to avoid capture through fishing activity. The MCRSs of species occurring within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are provided in the MCRS webpage.
Additional information on MCRSs can be found in https://www.sfpa.ie/Search/resource/2865
Accurate reporting and adherence to legislation are pivotal for the sustainable management of our marine resources. For queries or further clarification regarding these new webpages, please contact the SFPA at sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie. We are committed to providing guidance and assistance to support compliance with the relevant legislation.
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About the About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie