SIZE LIMITS IN SHETLAND

Common Lobster (Homarus gammarus)

The common lobster is one of the most iconic creatures in Shetland’s waters. Deep blue, powerful, and usually hiding in rocky crevices, they’re slow‑growing and long‑lived — which makes size limits essential for protecting the population.

Shetland Minimum Landing Size: 90 mm carapace length

How to measure: Measure from the back of the eye socket (the rear edge of the eye socket ridge) to the end of the carapace, where the hard shell meets the tail. If the carapace is 90 mm or more, the lobster is legal size.

Important:

Return all undersized lobsters immediately.
Never take berried (egg‑carrying) females.
Ethical harvesting helps keep Shetland’s lobster stocks healthy for the future.

Brown Crab (Cancer pagurus)

The brown crab — often called the edible crab — is one of the most iconic shellfish in Shetland. Heavy, powerful, and usually tucked into rocky cracks or kelp edges, they’re a familiar sight for divers. Because they grow slowly, strict size limits help protect the population.

Shetland Minimum Landing Size: 130 mm carapace width

How to measure: Measure across the widest part of the carapace, from the tip of one lateral spine to the tip of the other. If the width is 130 mm or more, the crab is legal size.

Important:

Return all undersized crabs immediately.
Never take berried (egg‑carrying) females — this is prohibited.
Ethical harvesting helps protect Shetland’s crab stocks for the future.

King Scallop (Pecten maximus)

The king scallop is one of the most striking shellfish in Shetland’s waters. With its large fan‑shaped shell and bright orange mantle, it lives half‑buried in sand or fine gravel. When disturbed, it can clap its shells to swim — a beautiful sight for any diver.

Shetland Minimum Landing Size: 100 mm shell length

How to measure: Measure the maximum length of the shell, from the hinge to the furthest edge of the shell. If the shell measures 100 mm or more, the scallop is legal size.

Important:

Return all undersized scallops immediately.
Recreational divers may only hand‑gather — no dredging.
Take only what you need; scallops grow slowly and are an important part of Shetland’s marine ecosystem.

Queen Scallop (Aequipecten opercularis)

The queen scallop is a smaller, delicate relative of the king scallop, often found sitting on top of sand or fine gravel rather than buried in it. They’re beautifully patterned, quick to swim when disturbed, and a lovely sight for divers exploring Shetland’s shallower bays.

Shetland Minimum Landing Size: 40 mm shell length

How to measure: Measure the maximum length of the shell, from the hinge to the furthest edge. If the shell is 40 mm or more, the scallop is legal size.

Important:

Return all undersized scallops immediately.
Recreational divers may only hand‑gather — no dredging.
Take only what you need; queen scallops are an important part of Shetland’s marine ecosystem.

Pollock shoal was photoed by Freedive Shetland - Atlantica

Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)

A fast, elegant hunter of Shetland’s kelp forests

Pollack are one of the most distinctive and athletic fish you’ll meet in Shetland’s coastal waters. Sleek, bronze‑green, and built for speed, they glide through kelp forests and rocky drop‑offs with effortless confidence. Their long, streamlined bodies and sharply forked tails make them powerful swimmers, often appearing suddenly out of the gloom before turning away with a flash of gold.

Identification

Bronze or olive‑green back fading to a pale belly
A long, continuous dorsal fin and a pointed head
A pale, slightly curved lateral line (unlike the straight line of saithe)
No chin barbel
Often found in small groups, especially juveniles

Where you’ll find them

Pollack favour kelp forests, pinnacles, and steep rocky ground, usually between 5–30 metres. They’re curious but cautious — freedivers often spot them circling just at the edge of visibility, especially on calm days with good light.

Behaviour

These fish are agile predators, feeding on sandeels, small fish, and crustaceans. Larger adults tend to be solitary and more wary, while younger pollack move in loose shoals and are more likely to approach divers.

Regulations & ethics (Shetland)

Minimum landing size: 30 cm
No closed season for recreational fishing
Ethical note: Pollack are slow‑growing and vulnerable to overfishing. Many divers choose to take only the occasional fish and avoid harvesting large breeding adults.

Diver’s note

Pollack are a beautiful species to observe underwater — their golden sheen catches the light in a way few other local fish do. Move slowly, stay relaxed, and you’ll often be rewarded with a close, graceful pass.

Pollock was speared by Freedive Shetland - Atlantica

Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

A calm, iconic presence in Shetland’s cold northern waters

Atlantic cod are one of the most recognisable fish in the North Atlantic — sturdy, speckled, and quietly majestic. In Shetland’s kelp forests and deeper reefs, they move with an unhurried confidence, their broad heads and sweeping tails giving them a gentle, almost thoughtful presence underwater.

Identification

Mottled brown, green, or grey body with pale spots
A distinct pale lateral line that curves gently above the pectoral fin
A prominent chin barbel (the easiest way to tell cod from pollack or saithe)
Three separate dorsal fins and two anal fins
Thick, muscular body and rounded tail

Where you’ll find them

Cod favour cool, sheltered areas with structure — kelp beds, boulder fields, wrecks, and deeper rocky ground. Juveniles often stay in shallower kelp forests, while larger adults prefer deeper, quieter areas. On calm days, freedivers may spot them resting close to the seabed or cruising slowly along gullies.

Behaviour

Cod are deliberate, curious fish. They often allow a slow, relaxed approach, especially younger individuals. Their diet includes crabs, shellfish, sandeels, and smaller fish. Larger cod are powerful predators but rarely show the sudden bursts of speed seen in pollack.

Regulations & ethics (Shetland)

Minimum landing size: 35 cm
No closed season for recreational fishing
Ethical note: Cod stocks have faced long-term pressure across the North Atlantic. Many divers choose to harvest sparingly and avoid taking large, older fish that contribute most to spawning.

Diver’s note

Cod have a wonderfully calm presence underwater — they seem to “think” before they move. If you stay still and let the kelp sway around you, a cod will often drift back into view, curious but unhurried.