Summary

Species:  Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), Flathead flounder (Hippoglossoides dubius)
Location:  KDSFF targets both species in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone within the Sea of Japan.
Fishing methods: Danish Seine
Vessels: 15
Number of fisheries: 2

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More about snow crab and flathead flounder

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio)

It has been determined that there are four subpopulations of snow crab inhabiting the Japan EEZ; Okhotsk, Northern Pacific Sea, the Japan Sea and Western Hokkaido

The hatching season occurs from February to April in approximately 250m water depth, with the peak season occurring during March.The snow crab has a planktonic lifecycle stage after hatching, taking approximately 3 months until settlement.

The preferred living habitat is different according to sex with female crabs inhabiting less then 260m depths and male crabs inhabiting greater then 260m depths.

The snow crab is considered to be of a high trophic level of the food chain of deep-sea environments of Japan, as it has limited predators once mature and mainly preys on detritus and starfish.

Flathead flounder (Hippoglossoides dubius)

Flathead flounder inhabit the Japan Sea and Northern part of the Pacific around Japan. KDSFF targets the subpopulation of the Japan Sea. The spawning season for this population is February through to April and the spawning ground is the zone 180-200 depth.

Mature females live in the deeper zone of <300 m depth at summer and autumn. From late autumn to winter, mature fish congregate close to the coast and spawn around 180-200 m in depth. Juvenile fish on the other hand inhabit areas around 200 m in all seasons and only migrate to deeper zones once matured. The average length at 50% maturity is 270 mm and 100% maturity at 360 mm for male fish and 50% maturity at 170 mm and 100% maturity at 240 mm for females. The reproductive capacity is estimated at about 90,000 to 950,000 eggs for female fish with one reproductive cycle occurring per year

More about the fishing methods

A single Danish seine net is operated from each KDSFF vessel at any one time.Although KDSFF members target multiple species, they target only one type of fish species at a time. The codend size and mesh of the net varies depending on the species of fish targeted.

When fishing for flounder and snow crab it takes approximately 1-1.5 hours/haul.

Fishery tonnage

91 MT of snow crab and 220 MT of flathead flounder in 2009.

Commercial market

All product is sold domestically.

Seine fishing in Kyoto dates back to the 1340s when fishers started catching coastal flatfish using seine nets.  The fishery started to target snow crabs nearly 500 years later in 1800 and by 1913 there were 70 boats working with hand-trawls around the Amino and Taiza areas.

All of the members of KDSFF use Danish seine nets which target only one species at a time. The size, mesh size and the cod end (the back of the net) varies depending on which species they are targeting. The vessels return to Kyoto each morning in time for the Maizuru area auction. Freshness is the most important factor for the fish and it is vital that fish reach the auction on the same day they are caught.

Sustaining fish stocks

In the past the stock levels in the fishery have been depleted but a recovery plan in 2003 has made huge improvements. KDSFF Chairman, Mr. Tetsuya Kawaguchi said: “KDSFF fishermen have been taking measures including setting of prohibited fishing areas and seasonal closures to pass on the bountiful Kyoto offshore sea to our descendants.  With our effort, the fish stocks are recovering.

“I am very pleased because our effort is verified by the MSC certification, and would like to give my gratitude to all people who gave support for this certification.  The certification is just a milestone.  Our objective is to pass on bountiful seas to the future generations with implementation of stock control and fishing ground management of Kyoto offshore sustainably.  As the MSC certified fishery, we will continue to improve the Danish Seine fishery with our love of the Sea of Kyoto.”

Global environmental award

The fishery was awarded The 20th Global Environmental Award by a big Japanese news company, Sankei Group in February 2011. The award is in collaboration with WWF Japan and given to several leading Japanese companies. They recognized the Foundation’s innovative achievement as the first MSC certification in Asia and also valued their continuous commitment and efforts for sustainable fisheries.

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:

Snow crab fishery

Flathead flounder fishery

Sustainability strengths

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

Principle 1: the state of the fish stock

• The target stock is reliably identifiable by fishers and regulators without error.
  

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

• The type, quantity and location of gear lost during fishing operations are not recorded. Estimates based on qualitative data show that losses do not cause unacceptable effects on the receiving ecosystem.
• There is a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem based on existing information.
  

Principle 3: the fishery management systems

• An evaluation has been undertaken which clearly shows that the management system is compliant with all relevant national legislation.
  
• Information, instruction and training are provided to the fishery operatives in the aims and methods of the management system allowing effective management of the systems that are implemented by the fishermen.
  
• The system does not include subsidies that contribute to unsustainable fishing.
  

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:  

• KDSFF will specify a timeframe for completing the recovery objective for the snow crab stock in conjunction with their local research body. The adaptive management process used in the fishery currently, also provides the framework for ensuring recovery within the specified timeframe.
  
• KDSFF will submit evidence at annual surveillance audits to show that the adaptive fishery management system is implemented when limit reference points are triggered to ensure recovery of the stock. At the fourth annual surveillance audit, provide evidence that the adaptive management system is continuing to be effective in recovering the flathead flounder stock on an annual basis to achieve the long-term objective of the recovery plans.

The fishery: Unit of certification

The certified snow crab fishery is defined as:

 The certified flathead flounder fishery is defined as:

Surveillance 3:  Completed October 2011

Surveillance report no.3 - 25 October 2011

Surveillance report no.3 (Japanese) - 25 October 2011

Stakeholder Notification: Annual surveillance audit - 18th August 2011

Surveillance 2:  Completed November 2010

Surveillance report no.2 - 5th November 2010

Client letter announcing change of certifier - 5th November 2010

Stakeholder Notification: Annual surveillance audit - 15th September 2010

Stakeholder Notification:Certificate transfer - 15th September 2010

Surveillance 1:  Completed November 2009
Surveillance report no.1

Certificates: Compliance with the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable fishing

Certificate of compliance MML-F-80 - Valid 23rd September 2010 11th September 2013

Stage 7: Objections procedure/public certification report and certificate issue

No objections were received

Public Certification Report - 19th September 2008

Stakeholder Notification: Issuance of public certification report - 19th September 2008

Stage 6: Final report and determination

Final report - 18th August 2008
Stakeholder notification: Final report and determination - 18th August 2008

Stage 5: Public review of the draft assessment report: HAVE YOUR SAY

Stakeholder Notification: Public comment draft report version 2 released - 1 July 2008
Public comment draft report version 2 - 1 July 2008
Public comment draft report - March 2007
Japanese translation: public comment draft report - March 2007
Stakeholder Notification: Public comment draft report released - March 2007

Stage 4: Client and peer review

Stakeholder Notification: Peer reviewers confirmed - 22 January 2007
Stakeholder Notification: Peer reviewers proposed - 26 October 2006

Stage 2: Building the assessment tree

Final assessment tree - 9 May 2006
Draft assessment tree - 24 March 2006
Japanese translation: draft assessment tree - 24 March 2006
Stakeholder Notification: Draft assessment tree released for comment - 24 March 2006

Stage 1: Fishery announcement and assessment team formation

Stakeholder Notification: Final assessment team - March 2006 
Stakeholder Notification: Assessment team nominated - 17 February 2006

Kyoto Danish Seine Fishery Federation

Shimoagu, Maizuru
Kyoto 624-0914
Japan

Contact: Mr. Hamanaka
Tel. +81 773 77 2202
Fax. +81 773 76 5667
t-hamanaka@ktgyoren.jf-net.ne.jp

Certification Body

Intertek Moody Marine

Merlin House, Stanier Way
The Wyvern Business Park
Derby, DE21 6BF
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1332 544663
Fax: +44 (0)1332 675020

Jo Akroyd
E-mail: j.akroyd@moodyint.com
Phone: +44 (0) 1704 834 644
Fax: +44 (0) 1332 675020

www.moodyint.com