This is an overview of how the Canada northern prawn fishery 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:

Fishery areas 5, 6, 7 (Download full public certification report here)

Fishery areas 13, 14, 15 (Download full public certification report here)

Sustainability strengths

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

Principle 1: the state of the fish stock

• The stock has increased substantially over time and is above the long term mean and any imaginable biomass limit reference point. This situation is expected to continue at least over the short to medium term. Changes in temperature and predation pressure could potentially change the prognosis, but at the present there is no indication of this in the short to medium timescale.

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

• Accurate and verifiable information is available to indicate that discarding is at a very low rate in this fishery; essentially all catch is landed.
• Overall, appropriate information is available on the most important bycatch species including good information on their distribution and ecology, although information is less detailed for species occurring with low frequency in bycatches.
• Fishing gear is rarely lost during fishing operations; gear is so expensive that if lost, substantial efforts are made to retrieve the gear. 

Principle 3: the fishery management systems

• Accurate and verifiable information is available to indicate that discarding is at a very low rate in this fishery; essentially all catch is landed
• Overall, appropriate information is available on the most important bycatch species including good information on their distribution and ecology, although information is less detailed for species occurring with low frequency in bycatches.
• Fishing gear is rarely lost during fishing operations; gear is so expensive that if lost, substantial efforts are made to retrieve the gear. 

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: 

Within the second year of certification:

(a) Based on existing information, the spatial distribution of fishing effort should be documented.

(b) Existing data should be compiled and used to map seabed habitats and, where possible, associated species.

Within the third year of certification:

(c) Based on the initial assessments above, develop a program to fill key knowledge gaps.

(d) Review information on the sensitivity of the identified seabed habitats and associated species.

(e) Compile information from existing studies of gear impacts on the identified seabed habitats.

(f) Using information from a, b, c, d, e above, assess the likely impacts of the fishery - taking into account extent, timing and location.

(g) Assess the acceptability of the current impacts of the fishery on habitat structure.

(h) Assess the acceptability of current impacts on biological diversity, community structure, and productivity.

(i) Review the effectiveness of existing policies, operating procedures and codes of conduct for coral conservation.

Within the fourth year of certification:

(j) If appropriate, using the information and outcomes from the above, new management strategies should be outlined and measures implemented to detect and minimise ecosystem impacts of the fishery and to ensure that key elements of the ecosystem are protected. In particular, the suitability of no-take zones and closed areas / seasons should be reviewed, and implemented and enforced if and where appropriate