Sustainability notes

This is an overview of how the South West mackerel handline 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 of the points on which the fishery scored over 90 are outlined below. 

Principle 1: the state of the fish stock

• The target stock and its life history are well understood by the fishers and regulators. This makes management more relevant and effective.

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

• Mackerel handline fishery has no physical impact on the habitat - the gear used only affects the upper and middle water column. Some loss of lines and hooks does occur but ghost fishing does not occur because the hooks fall to the sea bed and eventually decay.

Principle 3: the fishery management systems

• Non-compliance with the management system is dealt with by DEFRA (MFA) through the UK criminal justice systems using agreed and tested procedures. There are high levels of compliance within the handline fishery.

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: 

• South West Handline Fishermen's Association are to monitor stock assessment results and provide evidence of support of any recommended reductions in total fishing effort on the NE Atlantic mackerel stock as a whole.