Unit of certification
The unit of certification is the unit that is assessed by certifiers against the MSC environmental standard. It is defined as the fishery or fish stock (a biologically distinct unit) combined with the fishing method/gear and practice (the vessel/s) pursuing that stock. This is set at the beginning of the assessment.
The fishery: Unit of certification
The certified German North Sea saithe fishery is defined as:
| Species | Saithe (Pollachius virens) |
| Geographical range of fishing operations | EC waters: ICES Sub-Area IIa, IIIa, IIIbcd, IV |
| Method of capture | Demersal otter trawl |
| Stock | The stock is shared between EU and Norway. |
| Management | The management system is directed ultimately by the European Union (EU) through the Common Fisheries Policy and is controlled nationally through a bilateral agreement between Norway and the EU. Fisheries regulations are enforced through the German 'Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernaehrung (BLE)' (Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food) Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE). |
| Client group | Erzeugergemeinschaft der Hochsee - und Kutterfischer GmbH |
