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 South African hake trawl fishery is defined as:
|
Species |
Deepwater hake (Merluccius paradoxus) and Shallowwater Hake (M. capensis) |
|
Geographical range of fishing operations |
M. paradoxus: West and southwest coast of South Africa M. capensis: South African south coast |
|
Method of capture |
Deep-water and inshore trawl |
|
Stock |
The two targeted species are deep-water hake M. paradoxus and the shallower (warmer) water species M. capensis. Both species may be taken by the same fishers. Although there is some overlap between South African and Namibian populations, the stocks respond separately to management interventions and so, from a fishery management perspective the South African hake populations may be considered as a discrete stock. Certification is for South African stocks alone. |
|
Management |
The management system is applied by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Branch Marine and Coastal Management (MCM). |
|
Client group |
Members of the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) |
