Landing Dungeness crab pots in Oregon, USA.
Certification update
Mar 09, 2011
Recent fishery certifications bring new sources of white fish, shellfish and toothfish to the certified sustainable seafood market this quarter.
New saithe sources
Saithe has recently been ‘rediscovered’ by celebrity chefs and feted as
a delicious table fish. It also features strongly in the list of MSC
certified fisheries. Three saithe fisheries have been certified this
quarter and are hoping to use their sustainable fishing certifications
to help market their product.
Most recently, the DFPO Denmark North Sea and Skagerrak saithe fishery, representing 150 vessels, takes the Danish fleet one step closer to its target of full certification for all Danish fisheries by 2012. Meanwhile, the Scapêche and Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo saithe fishery becomes France’s third certified fishery and described the MSC assessment as helping them “ask the right questions for the future”. Finally, the UK Fisheries, DFFU and Doggerbank Group saithe fishery (a British-Polish-German group) reports a “surge in demand” for saithe and says it is confident that “markets throughout Europe will respond favourably to our MSC certification.”
More shellfish certified
The iconic Oregon Dungeness crab fishery lands about 10,000 MT of crab annually. Oregon Dungeness crab is famous for its flavour and quality and is
shipped to markets around the world—with the United States being the
major market. The fishery was certified in December 2010 and welcomed
the MSC ecolabel as a way to set the Oregon brand apart in the
marketplace.
Or if you prefer your shellfish a little smaller – but fat and juicy nonetheless – then mussels from Bangor in Wales, UK, might suit you. The North Menai Strait mussel fishery was sponsored through the assessment process by the Sustainable Fishing Fund from UK retailer, The Co-operative, and achieved certification in December 2010.
Russian cod and haddock
In Russia, the Ocean Trawlers Barents Sea cod and haddock fishery has achieved certification, bringing around 87,000 MT of Russian cod and 34,000 MT of Russian haddock into the MSC program. The fishery had successfully introduced new catch documentation systems, which, combined with improved port state controls, resulted in nearly complete elimination if IUU fishing by the Ocean Trawlers supply base, this has enabled it to meet the MSC standard, described as “a true milestone” for Russian fisheries in the Barents Sea.
Ross Sea toothfish certified
Heading from the north to the south, the Ross Sea Antarctic longline toothfish fishery was certified in November 2010. The fishery sets precautionary catch levels to minimise the impact of fishing on the stock, has 100% observer coverage on all vessels, and operates in line with conservation measures set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Resources (CCAMLR). The certification requires the fishery to embark on a comprehensive research program to enhance scientific understanding of this exploratory fishery.
And pollock recertified
Last but not least, congratulations to the BSAI Alaska pollock and GOA Alaska pollock fisheries, both recertified in the last quarter of 2010. Described by MSC’s regional director, Americas, Kerry Coughlin, as “one of the best managed fisheries in the world”, Alaska pollock is a major global supplier of MSC-labelled fish and a popular choice with consumers.
