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 Aker Biomarine krill fishery is defined as:
|
Species |
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) |
|
Geographical range of fishing operations |
The Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. |
|
Method of capture |
Pelagic trawl. |
|
Stock |
CCAMLR Statistical Area 48. |
|
Management |
The Aker Biomarine Antarctic krill fishery is managed within the framework of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Three krill fisheries are permitted in CCAMLR waters with Aker Biomarine participating in fishery within CCAMLR Statistical Area 48, within Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Part of the fishery overlaps with waters under the jurisdiction of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), though management in this area by GSGSSI within the CCAMLR management framework. Management measures are established annually and include a Total Allowable Catch (TAC), data reporting requirements and environmental protection measures such as restrictions on the discharge of oil, garbage and other wastes. The enforcement of CCAMLR regulations and the licensing of vessels to take part in the fishery is the responsibility of the flag state, which is Norway in this case. A TAC of 3.47 million tones was established for the 2007/08 fishing season, though a lesser limit of 620,000 tonnes presents the effective TAC until the Commission agrees to allocate the TAC between smaller management units. Annual catches from all participants in the fishery have ranged between 100,000 and 110,000 tonnes since 2000, while Aker Biomarine are forecasting a catch of 55,000 tonnes in the 2008/09 season. |
|
Client group |
Aker Biomarine. |
