All the species of fish we sell by auction are graded to strict weight specifications. The catches of all vessels are also assigned quality grades which may vary from boat to boat and indeed from species to species. Tables setting out the weight specifications of different sizes of fish and a description of the quality grades which may be assigned to them are set out below.
It is very important for buyers who are buying fish "unseen" over the internet to be given as much accurate information as possible so that they can buy with confidence. In reality, buyers quickly learn which vessels land consistently high quality catches and reward them with better prices.
The general subject of fish grades and quality grading is enough to send most people scampering for the trees; it is stupefyingly boring but just in case you have cracked that last flea on the cat or dog or suffer from depression and think a a quick grading pep talk will buck you up, then read on.
The grading sizes produced by the EU within the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) have little to do with the commercial realities of the UK Fishing Industry. Hence buyers will often request a new grade as they will have a customer who wants a particular species of fish within certain weight parameters. More often than not we will turn down the requests because more grades mean more boxes, more ice, more labour and more room for mistakes. Nevertheless, where there is general agreement among the buyers, we will split an EU grade into two grades to satisfy the more precise requirements of buyers.
Ever increasing bureaucracy demands we forward a copy of the sales note of every catch by every boat to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). Where our grades differ to those used by the MMO, they have to be "mapped" through our software to equate to the MMO grades which is another reason why we usually tell buyers politely to b**ger off when another grade is being requested.
The fish is sold with seven different quality grades and in a certain order of types of boats and also a certain species order as stated in the order of sale and species order section. This hopefully will aid the buyer to be paying attention when they are just after certain species of fish.
Quality grading is not an exact science and is dependent on the knowledge and experience of the assessor.
In general terms, four categories of freshness are applied i.e. E, A, A- and B where again in general E is very good quality, A is good quality, A- is below average and B is poor.
In addition, we have sub divisions to give buyers an indication of the method by which some of the fish is caught. Thus the letter L stands for line-caught fish i.e. by hand line or rod and line but not longline and the letter S stands for scalloping. Thus AS would indicate good average quality fish caught as a by-catch by a vessel that targets scallops with dredges; it would not be unusual for such fish to have the odd "scuff" mark whereas EL would indicate the best quality fish.
Anyone still awake?
Species | E.A.S. Grade | Weight | Comment | EU Grade | ERS Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albacore Tuna | 1 | > 11 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Albacore Tuna | 2 | 9 - 11kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Albacore Tuna | 3 | 7 - 9kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Albacore Tuna | 4 | 5 - 7kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Albacore Tuna | 5 | 3 - 5kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Albacore Tuna | 6 | 0 - 3kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Angler - Head On | 11 | > 12 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Angler - Head On | 12 | 6 -12kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Angler - Head On | 20 | 3 - 6 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Angler - Head On | 30 | 1.5 - 3 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Angler - Head On | 40 | 0.75 - 1.5 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Angler - Head On | 50 | 0 - 0.75 kgs | 5 | 5 | |
Angler - Tails | 11 | > 4.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Angler - Tails | 12 | 2 - 4 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Angler - Tails | 20 | 1 - 2 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Angler - Tails | 30 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Angler - Tails | 40 | 0.25 - 0.5 kgs | 5 | 4 | |
Angler - Tails | 50 | < 0.25 kgs | 5 | 5 | |
Bass | 1 | > 6.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Bass | 2 | 4 - 6 kgs | U9 | ||
Bass | 3 | 2 - 4 kgs | U9 | ||
Bass | 4 | 1 - 2 kgs | U9 | ||
Bass | 5 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Bass | 6 | < 0.5 kgs | U9 | ||
Black Bream | 1 | > 1.0 kgs | 1 | ||
Black Bream | 2 | 0.75-1.0 kgs | 2 | ||
Black Bream | 3 | 0.5 - 0.75 kgs | 3 | ||
Black Bream | 4 | 0.3 - 0.5 kgs | 4 | ||
Black Bream | 5 | < 0.3 kgs | 4 | ||
*Blonde Ray | 1 | > 6.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
*Blonde Ray | 2 | 4.0 - 6.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
*Blonde Ray | 3 | 3.0 - 4.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
*Blonde Ray | 4 | 2.0 - 3.0 kgs | 3 | 4 | |
*Blonde Ray | 5 | < 2.0 kgs | 3 | 4 | |
*Blonde Wings - Pairs | 1 | > 3.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
*Blonde Wings - Pairs | 2 | 2.0 - 3.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
*Blonde Wings - Pairs | 3 | 1.5 - 2.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
*Blonde Wings - Pairs | 4 | 1.0 - 1.5 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
*Blonde Wings - Pairs | 5 | < 1.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Brill | 1 | > 2.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Brill | 2 | 1.5 - 2.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Brill | 3 | 1.0 - 1.5 kgs | U9 | ||
Brill | 4 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Brill | 5 | < 0.5 kgs | U9 | ||
Cod | 1 | > 7.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Cod | 2 | 4.0 - 7.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Cod | 3 | 2.0 - 4.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Cod | 4 | 1.0 - 2.0 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Cod | 5 | 0.3 - 1.0 kgs | 5 | 5 | |
Coley/Saithe | 1 | > 5.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Coley/Saithe | 2 | 3.0 - 5.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Coley/Saithe | 3 | 1.5 - 3.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Coley/Saithe | 4 | 0.3 - 1.5 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Conger | 11 | > 10.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Conger | 12 | 7.0 - 10.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Conger | 21 | 5.0 - 7.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Conger | 31 | 3.0 - 5.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Conger | 32 | 0.3 - 3.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Crab | 1 | Cock | 1 | U129 | |
Crab | 2 | Hen | 2 | U129 | |
Cuttlefish | 1 | 123 | |||
Cuttlefish | 2 | 123 | |||
Dabs | 1 | > 0.25 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Dabs | 2 | 0.13 - 0.25 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Dived Scallops | 1 | 120+ mm | U9 | ||
Dived Scallops | 2 | 110-120mm | U9 | ||
Dived Scallops | 3 | 100-110mm | U9 | ||
Dogfish (Rough) | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
Dory | 1 | > 2.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Dory | 2 | 1.0 - 2.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Dory | 3 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Dory | 4 | 0.2 - 0.5 kgs | U9 | ||
Dory | 5 | < 0.2 kgs | U9 | ||
Gilt Head Bream | 1 | > 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Gilt Head Bream | 2 | 0.75-1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Gilt Head Bream | 3 | 0.5 - 0.75 kgs | U9 | ||
Gilt Head Bream | 4 | 0.3 - 0.5 kgs | U9 | ||
Gilt Head Bream | 5 | < 0.3 kgs | U9 | ||
Grey Mullet | 1 | > 1.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Grey Mullet | 2 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Grey Mullet | 3 | 0.2 - 0.5 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Grey Mullet | 4 | 0.1 - 0.2kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Gurnard (All) | 1 | > 1.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Gurnard (All) | 2 | 0.4 - 1.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Gurnard (All) | 3 | 0.2 - 0.4 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Gurnard (All) | 4 | 0.06 - 0.2 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Haddock | 1 | > 2.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Haddock | 2 | 1.0 - 2.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Haddock | 3 | 0.57 - 1.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Haddock | 4 | 0.30 - 0.57 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Haddock | 5 | 0.17 - 0.30 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Hake | 1 | > 6.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Hake | 2 | 5.0 - 6.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Hake | 3 | 4.0 - 5.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Hake | 4 | 3.0 - 4.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Hake | 5 | 2.0 - 3.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Hake | 6 | 1.0 - 2.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Hake | 7 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Hake | 8 | > 0.5 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Halibut | 1 | U9 | |||
Herring | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
Horse Mackerel | 1 | Large | 1 | 1 | |
Horse Mackerel | 2 | Small | 3 | 3 | |
Lemon Sole | 1 | > 0.6 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Lemon Sole | 21 | 0.5 -0.6 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Lemon Sole | 22 | 0.35 - 0.5 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Lemon Sole | 30 | 0.15 - 0.35 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Lemon Sole | 31 | < 0.15 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Ling | 1 | > 5.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Ling | 2 | 2.5 - 5.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Ling | 3 | < 0.25 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Lobster | 1 | > 1.4 kgs | U9 | ||
Lobster | 2 | <1.4 kgs | U9 | ||
Lobster | 3 | U9 | |||
Mackerel | 1 | > 0.5 kgs | > 37.5 cms | 1 | 1 |
Mackerel | 2 | 0.2 - 0.5 kgs | 29 - 37.5 cms | 2 | 2 |
Mackerel | 3 | 0.1 - 0.2 kgs | 24 - 29 cms | 3 | 3 |
Megrim | 1 | > 0.8 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Megrim | 2 | 0.5 - 0.8 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Megrim | 3 | 0.35 - 0.5 kgs | 1 | 2 | |
Megrim | 4 | 0.2 - 0.35 kgs | 2 | 3 | |
Megrim | 5 | < 0.2 kgs | 3 | 4 | |
Norway Lobster - Whole | 1 | < 20 per kg | 1 | 1 | |
Norway Lobster - Whole | 2 | 21 - 40 per kg | 2 | 2 | |
Norway Lobster - Whole | 3 | 41 - 60 per kg | 3 | 3 | |
Norway Lobster - Whole | 4 | > 60 per kg | 4 | 4 | |
Octopus | 1 | U9 | |||
Plaice | 1 | > 0.65 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Plaice | 2 | 0.5 - 0.65 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Plaice | 3 | 0.33 - 0.50 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Plaice | 4 | 0.14 - 0.33 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Pollack | 1 | > 5.0 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Pollack | 2 | 2.5 - 5.0 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Pollack | 3 | 1.5 - 2.5 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Pollack | 41 | 0.35 - 1.50 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Pollack | 42 | 0.26 - 0.35 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Pouting | 1 | Large | 1 | 1234 | |
Pouting | 2 | Small | 3 | 1234 | |
Red Mullet | 1 | > 1.0 kgs | 123 | ||
Red Mullet | 2 | 0.6 - 1.0 kgs | 123 | ||
Red Mullet | 3 | 0.4 - 0.6 kgs | 123 | ||
Red Mullet | 4 | 0.16 - 0.4 kgs | 123 | ||
Red Mullet | 5 | < 0.16 kgs | 123 | ||
Sand Sole | 1 | > 0.35 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sand Sole | 2 | 0.25 - 0.35 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sand Sole | 3 | 0.025 - 0.25 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sardines | 1 | 1234 | |||
Smoothound | 1 | > 2.2kgs | U9 | ||
Smoothound | 2 | 1.0 - 2.2 kgs | U9 | ||
Smoothound | 3 | < 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Sole | 1 | > 0.80 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 2 | 0.60 - 0.80 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 3 | 0.40 - 0.60 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 4 | 0.28 - 0.40 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 5 | 0.22 - 0.28 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 6 | 0.17 - 0.22 kgs | 12345 | ||
Sole | 7 | < .17 kgs | 12345 | ||
Squid | 1 | U9 | |||
Squid | 2 | U9 | |||
Turbot | 1 | > 6.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Turbot | 2 | 4.0 - 6.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Turbot | 3 | 3.0 - 4.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Turbot | 4 | 2.0 - 3.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Turbot | 5 | 1.0 - 2.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Turbot | 6 | < 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Whiting | 1 | > 0.5 kgs | 1 | 1 | |
Whiting | 2 | 0.35 - 0.50 kgs | 2 | 2 | |
Whiting | 3 | 0.25 - 0.35 kgs | 3 | 3 | |
Whiting | 4 | 0.11 - 0.25 kgs | 4 | 4 | |
Witches | 1 | > 0.55 kgs | U9 | ||
Witches | 2 | 0.42 - 0.55 kgs | U9 | ||
Witches | 3 | 0.30 - 0.42 kgs | U9 | ||
Witches | 4 | < 0.30 kgs | U9 | ||
Wreckfish | 1 | > 4kgs | U9 | ||
Wreckfish | 2 | 2 - 4 kgs | U9 | ||
Wreckfish | 3 | 1 - 2 kgs | U9 | ||
Wreckfish | 4 | 0.5 - 1.0 kgs | U9 | ||
Wreckfish | 5 | < 0.5 kgs | U9 |
* Please note all Rays and Skates are graded to the sizes for Blonde Ray & Blonde Wings