Crew of one of the vessels of PESCAFRIA
Basque company Pescafria-Pesquera Rodríguez SA first Spanish fishery to obtain MSC certification
Feb 02, 2012
The Marine Stewardship Council announced that Pescafria-Pesquera Rodríguez has been awarded MSC sustainable fishing certification, making PESCAFRIA the first Spanish fishery and the first European Union Barents Sea cod fishery to be awarded this distinction. The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Basque government representatives Jon Azkue, Deputy Regional Minister for Fisheries and the Food Industry, and Jokin Díaz, Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture; Pescafria Manager Francisco Rodríguez; MSC Regional Director for Europe Nicolas Guichoux, and Laura Rodríguez, MSC Spain and Portugal Country Manager.
MSC runs the leading international environmental certification for wild-fish fisheries. Over one year, a group of experts from independent, accredited certification body Food Certification International scrutinised and analysed Pescafria’s cod fishing operations, assessing the fishery on the basis of the three MSC environmental principles with regard to sustainable fish stocks (in this case, northeast Arctic cod), environmental impact on the marine ecosystem, and the effective management of fishing operations.
For PESCAFRIA, the certificate is given in recognition of a strategy based on professionalism and on respect for marine resources. Cod fished by PESCAFRIA-Pesquera Rodríguez can now be sold with the MSC ecolabel, already widely-sought by consumers in northern European markets and increasingly so in Spain also.
PESCAFRIA-Pesquera Rodríguez SA, which markets its products under the PESCAFRIA brand, was founded in 1940. A family-owned company, it has headquarters in the Basque Country and in Galicia. PESCAFRIA holds 27.50% of the Spanish cod quota, which translates into approximately 4000 tonnes, the largest national quota. The UK is the company’s major market for seafood products and frozen cod fillets and PESCAFRIA also exports to France, Holland, Norway and Portugal, among other markets. A small part of their production, including salt cod and frozen cod fillets, is marketed in Spain.
What Pescafria says
Pescafria Manager Francisco Rodriguez became aware of the MSC program and ecolabel through the certification of pollack fisheries in Alaska. In his opinion, “Getting MSC certification consolidates our position in export markets increasingly aware of the need to consume wild fishery seafood products, which are the only really sustainable products. Contrary to what we usually hear, and thanks to proper management over the years, cod stocks in the Arctic Ocean are actually at record numbers. This guarantees supplies of a fish which plays such a major role in our gastronomic traditions for future generations.”
What the Basque government says
"Our reason for taking part can be summed up quite simply: we favour the ecocertification route, because it ties in with our policy on fisheries, a policy we would like to see implemented in the Basque fishing sector as a whole". Jon Azcue, Basque government.
Jon Azkue, Basque Regional Minister for Fisheries and the Food Industry, called for “sustainability to guarantee the future of fish stocks and of fishing”, and underlined the Basque government’s “full commitment to the scientific study of the oceans and ocean species, something we are doing at AZTI-Tecnalia with a view to basing all fishing-related decisions on real understanding.”
What the MSC says
Nicolas Guichoux, European Director of MSC said "Spain is a major player in global commercial fishing so the certification of PESCAFRIA, the first fishery in Spain to gain MSC certification, is another milestone for MSC and for sustainability".
"I would like to congratulate Francisco Rodríguez from PESCAFRIA for his leadership and vision and the Basque Government which supported this application since day one. I have no doubt that many other Spanish fisheries will follow the example of PESCAFRIA, not only because of increasing demand from export markets but also thanks to the growing interest of Spanish stakeholders and consumers in sustainable seafood".
Information on PESCAFRIA
PESCAFRIA began its cod-fishing activities in the 1950s. In 1964 the company began fishing with factory freezer ships and set up the Pescafria brand. In the 80s, the company began to use these methods to produce cod, which subsequently became its biggest product. Pescafria has always been known for its efforts in technological innovation, respect for the environment and constant attention to product quality. The company’s philosophy is based on respect for the environment and responsible management of fish species.
Development of MSC in Spain
MSC has had offices in Spain since 2011, and has received much interest from the fishing sector and from the transformation and distribution sector. To date, another three fisheries are being assessed for MSC certification and some 30 businesses have received Chain of Custody certification, allowing them to market eco-labelled seafood products. MSC-labelled products are available at Lidl, Aldi and El Corte Inglés, among other chains.
In January 2012, MSC has a new ally in Spain - Fundación Biodiversidad. Joint activities scheduled include working with fisheries and businesses towards including them on the MSC programme, information seminars, and awareness-raising and promotional activities in establishments carrying MSC-labelled products.
