NACE 03.1 – Fishing | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 03.1 covers fishing in seas, inland waters and coastal regions, including the catching of fish, crustaceans and other marine animals and the harvesting of marine plants. The group includes deep-sea, coastal and inland fishing, but not aquaculture (NACE 03.2).

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 03.1 cover?

NACE 03.1 (Fishing) classifies businesses that obtain fish and other seafood through active catching in natural waters — from deep-sea fishing through coastal fishing to inland fishing in rivers and lakes.

Group 03.1 is broken down into two classes:

State fishing-rights awards and fish supply contracts to public institutions are the most important interfaces with public procurement.

Public Tenders: Fishing and Fish Supplies

Public-sector fishing contracts mainly comprise fish supply contracts for catering facilities, fishing-rights awards and contracts for marine monitoring and stock surveys.

Typical types of contract

• Fish deliveries for large kitchens: Framework agreements for hospitals, schools, the armed forces and care facilities covering fish and seafood
• Fishing-rights awards: Public tendering of fishing rights on state-managed lakes and river sections
• Fisheries monitoring: Stock surveys and accompanying studies for environmental authorities and water-management offices
• Herring fishing for federal institutions: Procurement of herring and other North Sea fish for state kitchens
• Eel stocking and fisheries management: Services for the management of public waters
• Research trips: Scientific fishing operations on state-owned research vessels (BfAR, Thünen Institute)

CPV codes for NACE 03.1

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public contracting authorities

• Hospitals and care facilities: Fish supply contracts as part of food procurement
• Armed forces (BAAINBw): Central procurement of fish for troop catering
• Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture: Funding and research programmes in the fishing area
• Thünen Institute and research institutions: Research trips and stock monitoring
• Federal states with coastline: Fishing-rights awards for coastal waters

Typical eligibility requirements

• Fishing permit: Valid fishing licence under the applicable state law
• EU fishing authorisation: For sea fishing, registration in the EU fishing-fleet register
• Food-law approval: EU approval under Regulation 853/2004 for fishery products
• HACCP evidence: Hygiene plan for catching, storage and transport
• MSC certification: Marine Stewardship Council certificate as award criterion for sustainability requirements

FAQ

What tenders are available for fishing businesses? Relevant public contracts include fish supply framework agreements for large kitchens (CPV 03311000), fishing-rights awards and monitoring contracts for environmental authorities. EU-wide notices can be found on TED under the main code 03310000.

Which CPV codes are relevant for NACE 03.1? The core codes are 03310000 (fish and seafood), 03311000 (fish) and 03312000 (crustaceans and molluscs). For monitoring services, 77000000 applies.

Are sustainability certificates required in tenders? Increasingly yes — many contracting authorities require MSC certification or equivalent sustainability evidence as a minimum requirement or award criterion, particularly in school catering and hospitals.

• NACE A – Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Parent section
• NACE 03 – Fishing and aquaculture: Parent division
• NACE 03.2 – Aquaculture: Related group

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.