Sustainability notes

This is an overview of how the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group Ltd western component of the North East Atlantic mackerel fishery scored in assessment against the MSC standard. For the certifiers evaluation please download the full public certification report with detailed information on the performance of this fishery against the criteria of the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing.

The fishery scored as follows in assessment against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. The highest possible score for each principle is 100 and a fishery must score at least 80 against each principle to get certified: 

Sustainability strengths

Some points on which the fishery scored over 90 are outlined below. 

Principle 1: the state of the fish stock

• The species is readily identified by fishers and by regulators and is recorded appropriately.  The life history is well understood.
•  Robust systems are in place to monitor landings by area, with all EU and Norwegian vessels over 15m required to have VMS.
• The age and sex structure of the stock is monitored as part of the stock assessment so as to detect any impairment of reproductive capacity.
• Technical measures are in place to prevent impacts of the fishery on the currently depleted North Sea component of the Western mackerel  stock.

Principle 2: the impact of the fishery on the marine environment

• This mid water pelagic fishery has very limited interaction with non-target species.  The target species is reported to account for 99% by weight of the overall catch.  All bycatch is monitored and counted against the relevant TAC for that species.
• Fishing is conducted in a manner that does not have unacceptable impacts on recognised protected, endangered or threatened species. To date no cetacean or seal bycatch has been seen in this fishery by independent observers.

Principle 3: the fishery management systems

• Organisations with management responsibility are clearly defined, including their areas of responsibility and interactions.
• Clear operational procedures exist for meeting fishery objectives, through regular inspection of landings and other feedback systems under the CFP Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) system.
• The management system includes a consultative process including affected parties through the new Regional Advisory Councils.
• The fishery resource and the effects of the fishery are regularly monitored and assessed by ICES.  Full details of these assessments are made publicly available.
• Procedures exist under the CFP for reductions in harvest in light of monitoring results on an annual basis.

Challenges

In order to ensure its continuing sustainable operation this fishery made a commitment to improving its performance where it scored between 60-80. Some of the actions the fishery has committed to are: 

• Record all incidences of slippage.  SPSG should consult with the Scottish fisheries research services as to what information is required, but it is likely to include estimated quantity of fish by species, reason for slipping, and the condition of the school to give an indication of likely mortality.
• Reduce slippage to minimum.  SPSG must set out a strategy to reduce slippage mortality, including a target level as close to zero as reasonably possible.
• Annual verification available that the fishery makes no contribution to the overshoot of the TAC.  SPSG must clearly demonstrate that its vessels do not contribute to overshoot of the TAC – i.e that they fish within their annual quota allocation.
• Active support for the development of a NEA Mackerel management plan.  A new management plan is expected to be drafted within the period of this certification. The SPSG will be expected to put its full weight behind such a plan, and to promote its adoption at an industry-wide level. The management needs to be demonstrably effective by the end of certification, e.g. in maintaining fishing mortality at or around its target level.