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Legislation

03 - Fishing and aquaculture

This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.

This division includes capture fishery and aquaculture, covering the use of fishery resources from marine, brackish or freshwater environments, with the goal of capturing or gathering fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine organisms and products (e.g. aquatic plants, pearls, sponges etc). Also included are activities that are normally integrated in the process of production for own account (e.g.seeding oysters for pearl production). Service activities incidental to marine or freshwater fishery or aquaculture are included in the related fishing or aquaculture activities.

This division does not include building and repairing of ships and boats (30.1, 33.15) and sport or
recreational fishing activities (93.19). Processing of fish, crustaceans or molluscs is excluded, whether at land-based plants or on factory ships (10.20).

03.1 Fishing 

This group includes "capture fishery", i.e. the hunting, collecting and gathering activities directed at removing or collecting live wild aquatic organisms (predominantly fish, molluscs and crustaceans) including plants from the oceanic, coastal or inland waters for human consumption and other purposes by hand or more usually by various types of fishing gear such as nets, lines and stationary traps. Such activities can be conducted on the intertidal shoreline (e.g. collection of molluscs such as mussels and oysters) or shore based netting, or from home-made dugouts or more commonly using commercially made boats in inshore, coastal waters or offshore waters. Such activities also include fishing in restocked water bodies.

03.11 Marine fishing

This class includes:
- fishing on a commercial basis in ocean and coastal waters
- taking of marine crustaceans and molluscs
- whale catching
- taking of marine aquatic animals: turtles, sea squirts, tunicates, sea urchins etc.

This class also includes:
- activities of vessels engaged both in marine fishing, and in processing and preserving of fish
- gathering of other marine organisms and materials: natural pearls, sponges, coral and algae

This class excludes:
- capturing of marine mammals, except whales, e.g. walruses, seals, see 01.70
- processing of whales on factory ships, see 10.11
- processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs on factory ships or in factories ashore, see 10.20
- renting of pleasure boats with crew for sea and coastal water transport (e.g. for fishing cruises), see 50.10
- fishing inspection, protection and patrol services, see 84.24
- fishing practiced for sport or recreation and related services, see 93.19
- operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.19

03.12 Freshwater fishing

This class includes:
- fishing on a commercial basis in inland waters
- taking of freshwater crustaceans and molluscs
- taking of freshwater aquatic animals

This class also includes:
- gathering of freshwater materials

This class excludes:
- processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs, see 10.20
- fishing inspection, protection and patrol services, see 84.24
- fishing practiced for sport or recreation and related services, see 93.19
- operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.19

03.2 Aquaculture 

This group includes "aquaculture" (or aquafarming), i.e. the production process involving the culturing or farming (including harvesting) of aquatic organisms (fish, molluscs, crustaceans, plants, crocodiles, alligators and amphibians) using techniques designed to increase the production of the organisms in question beyond the natural capacity of the environment (for example regular stocking, feeding and protection from predators). Culturing/farming refers to the rearing up to their juvenile and/or adult phase under captive conditions of the above organisms. In addition, "aquaculture" also encompasses individual, corporate or state ownership of the individual organisms throughout the rearing or culture stage, up to and including harvesting.

03.21 Marine aquaculture

This class includes:
- fish farming in sea water including farming of marine ornamental fish
- production of bivalve spat (oyster mussel etc.), lobsterlings, shrimp post-larvae, fish fry and fingerlings
- growing of laver and other edible seaweeds
- culture of crustaceans, bivalves, other molluscs and other aquatic animals in sea water

This class also includes:
- aquaculture activities in brackish waters
- aquaculture activities in salt water filled tanks or reservoirs
- operation of fish hatcheries (marine)
- operation of marine worm farms

This class excludes:
- frog farming, see 03.22
- operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.19

03.22 Freshwater aquaculture

This class includes:
- fish farming in freshwater including farming of freshwater ornamental fish
- culture of freshwater crustaceans, bivalves, other molluscs and other aquatic animals
- operation of fish hatcheries (freshwater)
- farming of frogs

This class excludes:
- aquaculture activities in salt water filled tanks and reservoirs, see 03.21
- operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.19

 

For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.