Species FAO code: HKE

Merluccius merluccius

Merluccius merluccius

© Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Conservation measures
Marketing standards
Species distribution and habitat
Species description
Combined Nomenclature

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Austria	de Europäischer Seehecht de Seehecht	–
Belgium	fr Merlu nl Heek	–
Bulgaria	bg Мерлуза	–
Croatia	hr oslić hr mol	–
Cyprus	el μπακαλιάρος	–
Czech Republic	cs Štikozubec evropský cs Mořská štika evropský cs Merlúza evropský cs Hejk evropský	–
Denmark	da Europæisk kulmule da kulmule	–
Estonia	et Euroopa merluus et heik	–
Finland	fi kummeliturska sv kummel	–
France	fr merlu commun fr Merlu fr Colin fr Merlu (for prepacked) fr Colin (for prepacked)	–
Germany	de Europäischer Seehecht de Seehecht	–
Greece	el Μπακαλιάρος	–
Hungary	hu hekk hu európai hekk hu földközi-tengeri tőkehal	–
Ireland	en Hake en European hake en Silver Hake ga Colmóir	–
Italy	it Nasello it merluzzo	–
Lithuania	lt europinė jūrinė lydeka	–
Luxembourg	de Europäischer Seehecht fr merlu commun fr Merlu fr Colin fr merlu (Colin) (for prepacked)	–
Malta	en European hake it Nasello mt Merluzz	–
Netherlands	nl heek nl Europese heek	–
Poland	pl Morszczuk europejski	–
Portugal	pt Pescada pt Marmota-branca pt Pescada-branca	–
Romania	ro Merluciu	–
Slovakia	sk merlúza európska	–
Slovenia	sl oslič sl osliči	–
Spain	es Merluza es Merluza europea	Andalusia: Merluza Andalusia: Pescadilla Andalusia: Pescada Asturias: Pescadilla Asturias: Carioca Asturias: Pijota Balearic Islands: Lluç Balearic Islands: Llucet Canary Islands: Pescadilla Canary Islands: Merluza Cantabria: Carioca Cantabria: Pescadilla Catalonia: Lluç Valencia: Lluç Galicia: Pescada Murcia: Pescadilla Murcia: Merluza Basque Country: Legatza Basque Country: Lebatza
Sweden	sv Kummel	–

Main production methods

Caught

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Minimum conservation reference sizes

As defined in art. 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, which admends article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, where minimum conservation reference sizes are established, they shall constitute minimum marketing sizes. More

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 27.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

North Sea: the North Sea shall comprise ICES sub-area 4, the adjacent part of ICES Division 2a lying south of latitude 64° N, and that part of ICES Division 3a which is not covered by the definition of Skagerrak

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 27.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.8 Bay of Biscay (Subarea VIII)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
34.2 Northern Oceanic
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal
34.1.2 Canaries/Madeira Insular

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 27.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.5 Iceland and Faeroes Grounds (Subarea V)
27.6 Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland, (the Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as the West of Scotland) (Subarea VI)
27.7 Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern and Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North and South, and Southwest of Ireland - East and West (Subarea VII)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 20.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

37.1 Western Mediterranean
37.2 Central Mediterranean
37.3 Eastern Mediterranean

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 30.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

TACs and quotas

Total allowable catches (TACs) or fishing opportunities, are catch limits (expressed in tonnes or numbers) that are set for most commercial fish stocks. TACs are set annually for most stocks (every two years for deep-sea stocks) by the Council of fisheries ministers. TACs are shared between EU countries in the form of national quotas. For each stock a different allocation percentage per EU country is applied for the sharing out of the quotas. Read more: TACs and quotas

Stocks (2021)

HKE/03A.

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.3.a Skagerrak and Kattegat (Division IIIa)

TAC

2974.0 t

Union

2974.0 t

SE

233.0 t

DK

2741.0 t

Stocks (2021)

HKE/04-N.

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.4 North Sea (Subarea IV) Norwegian waters

TAC

Not relevant

Union

2000.0 t

DK

1601.0 t

FR

74.0 t

NL

128.0 t

SE

Not relevant

DE

180.0 t

BE

17.0 t

Stocks (2021)

HKE/2AC4-C

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.4 North Sea (Subarea IV) United Kingdom and Union waters
27.2.a Norwegian Sea (Division IIa) United Kingdom waters

TAC

3443.0 t

Union

2089.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

DE

169.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

DK

1473.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

BE

36.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

NL

85.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

FR

326.0 t

Not more than 10% of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.). — Special condition: of which up to 6 % may be fished in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 6a north of 58°30’N (HKE/*6AN58).

Stocks (2021)

HKE/571214

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.7 Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern and Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North and South, and Southwest of Ireland - East and West (Subarea VII)
27.12 North of Azores (Subarea XII) international waters
27.14 East Greenland (Subarea XIV) international waters
27.6 Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland, (the Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as the West of Scotland) (Subarea VI)
27.5.b Faeroes Grounds (Division Vb) United Kingdom and international waters

TAC

55335.0 t

Union

44451.0 t

ES

15974.0 t

IE

2989.0 t

FR

24669.0 t

NL

321.0 t

BE

498.0 t

Stocks (2021)

HKE/8ABDE.

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.8.b Bay of Biscay / Central (Division VIIIb)
27.8.d Bay of Biscay / Offshore (Division VIIId)
27.8.e West of Bay of Biscay (Division VIIIe)
27.8.a Bay of Biscay / North (Division VIIIa)

TAC

36906.0 t

Union

36906.0 t

NL

33.0 t

ES

11356.0 t

BE

16.0 t

FR

25501.0 t

Stocks (2021)

HKE/8C3411

Merluccius merluccius

Fishing areas

27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.8.c Bay of Biscay / South (Division VIIIc)
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal Union waters
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)

TAC

8517.0 t

Union

8314.0 t

ES

5320.0 t

PT

2483.0 t

FR

511.0 t

Specific requirements that fishery products marketed in the EU shall meet. They include freshness and size categories.

Freshness categories

	A	B	Extra
Flesh	Less elastic	Slightly soft (flaccid), less elastic; waxy (velvety) and dull surface	Firm and elastic; smooth surface
Gills	Less coloured; transparent mucus	Brown/grey becoming discoloured; thick, opaque mucus	Bright colour; no mucus
Peritoneum (in gutted fish)	Slightly dull; can be detached from flesh	Speckled; comes away easily from flesh	Smooth; bright; difficult to detach from flesh
Smell of gills and abdominal cavity	No smell of seaweed; neutral smell	Fermented; slightly sour	Seaweedy
Eye	Convex and slightly sunken; black dull pupil; slightly opalescent cornea	Flat; opalescent cornea; opaque pupil	Convex (bulging); black, bright pupil; transparent cornea
Skin	Pigmentation bright but not lustrous	Pigmentation in the process of becoming discoloured and dull	Bright, iridescent pigment (save for redfish) or opalescent; no discolouration
Skin mucus	Slightly cloudy	Milky	Aqueous, transparent

Size categories

Size	weight/fish
1	≥ 2.5 kg
2	≥ 1.2 \| < 2.5 kg
3	≥ 0.6 \| < 1.2 kg
4	≥ 0.28 \| < 0.6 kg
5	≥ 0.2 \| < 0.28 kg
5 Mediterranean	≥ 0.15 \| < 0.28 kg

As defined in art. 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, which admends article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, where minimum conservation reference sizes are established, they shall constitute minimum marketing sizes. More

Habitat

Saltwater

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution maps

Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Merluccius merluccius

Source: Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Merluccius merluccius

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Merluccius merluccius

Scientific name

Merluccius merluccius

Author

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Rank

Species

FAO code

HKE

Morphological description

Inside of mouth and branchial cavity black. Second dorsal and anal fins notched. First vertebra and neural spine attached to skull. Vertebrae 50-52.

Taxonomic classification

ClassActinopterygii
- OrderGadiformes
  - FamilyMerlucciidae
    - GenusMerluccius
      - SpeciesMerluccius merluccius

Synonyms

Trachinoides maroccanus Borodin, 1934
Merluccius ambiguus Lowe, 1841
Trachinoides moroccanus Borodin, 1934
Molva byrkelange (Walbaum, 1792)
Merlucius lanatus Gronow, 1854
Merluccius argentatus Günther, 1862
Merlucius ambiguus Lowe, 1841
Merluccius smiridus Rafinesque, 1810
Onus riali Rafinesque, 1810
Merluccius ambiguous Lowe, 1841
Gadus byrkelange Walbaum, 1792
Merluccius linnei Malm, 1877
Hidronus marlucius Minding, 1832
Gadus ruber Lacepède, 1803
Merluccius esculentus Risso, 1827
Gadus merluccius Linnaeus, 1758
Merlucius sinuatus Swainson, 1838
Merluccius vulgaris Fleming, 1828
Hydronus marlucius Minding, 1832
Merluccius merluccius lessepsianus Lloris, Matallanas & Oliver, 2003
Merlucius esculentus Risso, 1827

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758)

An annually revised goods classification scheme used in EU for the purposes of customs duty and foreign trade statistics. The scheme is based on the Harmonized System nomenclature, further extended with Community subdivisions. Each subdivision is identified by an eight-digit numerical code. Read more: Combined Nomenclature

03 — CHAPTER 3 - FISH AND CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 0302 — Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae, excluding livers and roes
    - 0302 54 — Hake (Merluccius spp., Urophycis spp.)
      - Hake of the genus Merluccius
        0302 54 19 — Other
- 0303 — Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae, excluding livers and roes
    - 0303 66 — Hake (Merluccius spp., Urophycis spp.)
      - Hake of the genus Merluccius
        0303 66 19 — Other
- 0304 — Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen
  - Fresh or chilled fillets of other fish
    - 0304 44 — Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae
      - 0304 44 90 — Other
  - Other, fresh or chilled
    - 0304 53 00 — Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae
  - Frozen fillets of fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae
    - 0304 74 — Hake (Merluccius spp., Urophycis spp.)
      - Hake of the genus Merluccius
        0304 74 19 — Other
  - Other, frozen
    - 0304 95 — Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae, other than Alaska pollack (Theragra chalcogramma)
      - 0304 95 10 — Surimi
      - Other
        0304 95 50 — Hake of the genus Merluccius
- 0305 — Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; flours, meals and pellets of fish, fit for human consumption
  - Fish fillets, dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked
    - 0305 32 — Fish of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae
      - 0305 32 90 — Other
16 — CHAPTER 16 - PREPARATIONS OF MEAT, OF FISH OR OF CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS OR OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 1604 — Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs
  - Fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced
    - 1604 19 — Other
      - Other
        Other
        1604 19 94 — Hake (Merluccius spp., Urophycis spp.)

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