Sustainability notes

This is an overview of how the Stornoway nephrops trawl 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.
  
• Fishery independent surveys of stock abundance are carried out on an annual basis, providing an independent measure of the abundance of the stock.
• All fishing methods and gear types used in the fishery are known, as is the seasonal operation of the fleet.
  

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

• Information on the importance of nephrops in the food web at key life stages is available as a basis of understanding the ecosystem effects of the fishery.
  
• Quantitative records of by-catch taken in the fishery are considered accurate and sufficient to provide adequate information.
• Information is kept on any fishing gear lost during fishing operations, though the impact of lost gear is considered negligible and most gear lost is retrieved.
  

Principle 3: the fishery management systems

• The management system is legally robust, having been assessed to respect international law, comply with domestic law and observes customary and legal rights.
  
• The responsibilities of all entities involved in the management of the fishery are clearly defined.
  
• The management system employs consultation procedures that includes all affected stakeholders and includes mechanisms for the resolution of disputes amongst stakeholders.
• An effective surveillance and monitoring system is in place, and effective corrective actions can be implemented in circumstances where non-compliance is detected.
  

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:  

• While the fishery is currently considered to be exploited at sustainable levels, formal reference points for guiding management actions should be developed for the fishery.
  
• Current catch limits in the fishery are managed across the functional management units.  In order to avoid localised depletion, catch limits should be apportioned over the smaller scale functional management units.
• Measures should be identified and implemented to reduce the by-catch of cod and spurdog in the fishery.