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 American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) fishery is defined as:
|
Species |
Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) |
|
Geographical range of fishing operations |
North Pacific Ocean |
|
Methods of capture |
Pole-and-line Troll/jig |
|
Stock |
The stock under assessment is the North Pacific albacore stock. It is recognised that this fishery represents a small proportion of the total fishing pressure on this stock. As a consequence the status of the North Pacific stock as a whole is assessed, together with fishing practices and consequences within the AAFA pole & line and troll/jig fleet only. |
|
Management |
Albacore occur within the jurisdictions of both the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC). When operating in the U.S. EEZ the U.S. fishery is under domestic management of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. |
|
Client group |
AAFA member vessels and vessels recognised by AAFA. Any vessels joining the unit of certification must recognise any requirements of MSC certification applied to AAFA vessels |
