Certified as sustainable in 15 June 2013. 

Summary

Species: Saithe (Pollacius virens)
Location: Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank, ICES Vb1 and Vb2, FAO area 27. 
Fishing methods: Demersal trawl, long liners, jiggers 
Number of fisheries: 1

More about Saithe

Because of its shoaling behaviour, depth distribution and feeding habits, saithe is considered to be both a demersal and a pelagic species. They can be found living at depths between 0m and 500m and are known to make extensive vertical migrations. Saithe may congregate in very large shoals when the habitat is suitable and feeding conditions are good.
The species is distributed from the Bay of Biscay in the south to north of Norway in the Arctic Ocean and westwards via Greenland to the North American Atlantic coast. It is found to the west of the British Isles and in the northern North Sea but is uncommon in the English Channel, southern North Sea and most of the central North Sea.

Saithe are voracious predators feeding opportunistically on sandeel, herring, sprat, Norway pout, haddock and other young fish. They are known to make extensive migrations following shoaling aggregations of fish particularly herring. They grow rapidly at around 15cm per year for the first three to four years attaining an average weight of 1.5-2.0kg by age 4. They reach a length of 100cm (10-12kg) at around fourteen years of age and can reach a maximum
length of around 130cm (ca 20 kg) at 25 to 30 years old.

More about the fishing methods

Trawlers
The larger (offshore) trawlers use a Baka 630 trawl with 21-inch (sic; 53.3 cm) disc rockhopper ground gear. Rock-hopper trawls are designed for use on rough ground; the rig of the ground rope enables the trawl to hop free of seabed obstructions if it becomes fast but in doing so it can break fragile upright structures (e.g. coral) and turn boulders, possibly crushing turf communities such as sponges. This potentially negative environmental effect is countered to some small degree inn single-boat trawlers by the use of slotted Faroe doors; curved ovoid doors with two rows of choked slots.

The gear used by the pair trawlers is basically the same as by the single-boats but without the use of doors. Any environmental advantage that might be gained through the absence of doors, however, is lost through the action of the c. 1 t chain deadweight attached to the front end of the lower bridle to help keep the gear on the seabed. The small (c. 10 vessels, < 20 m) inshore (summer) trawl fleet use very similar rock-hopper gear to that used by the large, offshore vessels except that it is scaled down to a level commensurate with the towing vessel.

Longliners
Longlining is among the oldest of the traditional static-gear fishing methods and used throughout the world from small, open inshore boats (i.e. <10 m) to large (c. 50 m ) offshore vessels. In terms of fishing operations, the key difference is that the large vessels bait and shoot thousands of hooks automatically, whereas the small vessels may bait manually and shoot a few hundred hooks each day. The larger vessels operate offshore in deep water along the margin of the continental slope whereas small dayboats operate inshore.

Jigging
Jigging involves the use of multiple hooks decorated with strips of brightly coloured plastic rather than bait. The lines are lowered either by hand or from auto-jigging machines, from a stationary boat or one that is going slowly ahead. When a boat gets into a shoal of fish it will either circle the area or heave too until the catch rate falls. The method is used primarily inshore and on the Faroe Plateau by smaller (c. 50 vessels < 15m) vessels, although there are no restrictions on where jigging vessels can operate other than the areas closed to all forms of fishing. There is no interaction between jigging gear and the aquatic environment or seabed other than the occasional loss of the weight that takes the line down or line itself if the line breaks.

Fishery tonnage

Total greenweight catch in 2011:

Otter trawl - 885,2 t
Pair trawl - 24687, 1t

Commercial market

EU

Actual eligibility date

15 September 2012

Species

Saithe (Pollacius virens)

MSC assessment status

The 15 working day period during which parties could have lodged an intent to object to the Conformity Assessment Body, DNV, determination that the Faroe Island saithe fishery should be certified closed on 12 June 2013. No objections were received and the determination therefore holds. The new certificate will be in effect for 5 years, contingent on the fishery successfully completing annual audits of its status against the MSC standard.

The MSC ecolabel may now be applied to catches taken from this fishery after the agreed eligibility date of 15 September 2012 by those companies with appropriate Chain of Custody certification in place.

Please refer to the assessment downloads section for further information

Fishery location

Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank, ICES Vb1 and Vb2, FAO area 27.

Fishing method

Demersal trawl, long liners, jiggers

Fishery management

Faroe exercises sovereign authority over its coastal waters to 200 miles or median lines, whichever is the lesser. Through Denmark, Faroe is a signatory to the North East Atlantic Fishery Convention and participates in NEAFC meetings. Similarly, Faroe is an associate member of FAO and ICES, where FAMRI scientists are active members, not least in the ICES assessment of north-western and deep-water stocks. All fish catches from Faroese waters must be reported to the Faroese fishery management authority which, in turn, reports landing figures to NEAFC (and ICES). 

Commercial market

EU

Assessment timeline

The assessment process is expected to take 10 months and is scheduled for completion around 01/2013. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.

The target eligibility date for this fishery is the 01/05/2012.

The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.

To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).

Tonnage of the fishery

Total greenweight catch in 2011:

Otter trawl - 885,2 t
Pair trawl - 24687, 1t

Certified as sustainable in March 2013. 

This fishery assessment now includes the Southeast US North Atlantic swordfish fishery

Summary

Species:  Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius)
Location:  North Atlantic Ocean, FAO statistical area 31
Fishing methods:  Pelagic longline and handgear buoy line.
Number of fisheries: 1

More about swordfish

Swordfish are cosmopolitan, and can be found in the tropical and temperate waters of all the oceans
between 45oN and 44oS.  They are distributed widely in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. 
Over the range of the swordfish, variation in the distribution by size and sex is evident, both
geographically and vertically.  Larger individuals are found in deeper colder waters and males are
more prevalent in warmer waters than females. 
 
Swordfish mostly spawn in the western warm tropical and subtropical waters throughout the year,
although seasonality has been reported in some of these areas. They are found in the colder
temperate waters during summer and fall months.

Swordfish can reach a maximum weight in excess of 500 kg. Females grow faster than males and
reach a larger maximum size. Swordfish are difficult to age, but tagging studies have shown that
some swordfish can live up to 15 years. The size at sexual maturity of
 swordfish varies with location.

Larval swordfish feed on copepods, but at an early juvenile age their diet consists almost entirely of
fish.  Adults feed on a wide variety of prey including groundfish, invertebrates, pelagic and deep‐
water fish.  Adults are believed to feed throughout the water column, and based on recent
electronic tagging studies undertake diurnal migrations, rising to the surface mixed layer at night and
descending to deeper waters during day to feed on fishes and squids

More about the fishing methods

Pelagic longline gear is composed of several parts. The primary fishing line, or mainline of
the longline system, can vary from five to 40 miles in length, with approximately 20 to 30 hooks per
mile. The depth of the mainline is determined by ocean currents and the length of the floatline,which connects the mainline to several buoys, and periodic markers which can have radar reflectors
or radio beacons attached. Each individual hook is connected by a leader to the mainline. Lightsticks, which contain chemicals that emit a glowing light, are often used for targeting swordfish. When
attached to the hook and suspended at a certain depth, lightsticks attract bait fish which may, in
turn, attract pelagic predators. When targeting swordfish, the lines generally are deployed at sunset and hauled at sunrise
to take advantage of swordfish nocturnal near‐surface feeding habits. Except for
vessels of the distant water fleet which undertake extended trips, fishing vessels preferentially
target swordfish during periods when the moon is full to take advantage of increased densities of
pelagic species near the surface. The number of hooks per set varies with line configuration and
target catch.

Buoy gear means a fishing gear consisting of one or more floatation devices supporting a single
mainline to which no more than two hooks or gangions are attached. The buoy gear fishery is usually undertaken at night. 

Fishery tonnage

In 2008, the pelagic longline fishery landed 2,300 mt and the buoy handgear fishery landed 122,700 lbs dressed weight (55.7 mt).

Commercial market

The fresh market in the US.

Actual eligibility date

28 March 2013

Certified as sustainable in July 2011

Summary

Species:  Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Location:  Canadian Pacific EEZ and British Columbia Coastal Waters

• North and Central Coast
• Inner South Coast
• Fraser River

Fishing methods:  Seine, troll, gillnet
Number of fisheries: 3

More about pink salmon

Pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, are found in streams and rivers from California north to the Mackenzie River, with their principal spawning areas between Puget Sound, Washington, and Bristol Bay, Alaska. Of particular interest with the pink salmon is the defined life span. Upon emergence from the
gravel pink salmon fry swim quickly to sea and grow rapidly as they make extensive feeding
migrations. After spending eighteen months in the ocean, maturing fish return to their natal
rivers to spawn and die.

More about the fishing methods

Trollers employ hooks and lines which are suspended from large poles extending from the fishing vessel. Altering the type and arrangement of lures used on lines allows various species to be targeted. Trollers catch approximately 25 per cent of the commercial harvest.

Seine nets are set from fishing boats with the assistance of a small skiff. Nets are set in a circle around aggregations of fish. The bottom edges of the net are then drawn together into a “purse” to prevent escape of the fish.Seiners take approximately 50 per cent of the commercial catch.

Salmon gill nets are rectangular nets that hang in the water and are set from either the stern or bow of the vessel. Altering mesh size and the way in which nets are suspended in the water allows nets to target selectively on certain species and sizes of fish. Gill netters generally fish near coastal rivers and inlets, taking about 25 per cent of the commercial catch.

Commercial market

Worldwide

Actual eligibility date

1st July 2009

Certified as sustainable in May 2013. 

Summary

Species:  Cockle (Cerastoderma edule)
Pullet carpet shell (Venerupis pullastra)
Grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus)
Short-necked clam (Ruditapes philippinarum)
Location:  Ria de Arousa (Punta Portomouro to Punta Pedra Rubia area). FAO zone 27. North Atlantic
Fishing methods:  Fishermen walking with hand devices or on boards with hand devices.
Vessels:  15-20
Number of fisheries: 4

More about: 

Cockle

The cockle is one of the most common and widely distributed bivalve species on tidal flats along the coast of most of European countries. Its distribution area extends from the Barent Sea and the Baltic to the Iberian Peninsula south to Mauritania, into the Mediterranean, The Black and Caspian Seas. This species lives just under the bottom
surface burrowing to a depth of no more than 5 cm, on sand, mud and gravel bottoms from intertidal to only a few m deep. It is common in bays, coastal lagoons and estuaries. Usually live at salinities between 15 -35 but can tolerate salinities as low as 10. The density of populations can be extremely high: up to 10.000 animals per square meter have
been counted. Growth shows a marked seasonal pattern . In the Wadden Sea the growing season takes place between April and August-September with a negligible growth during winter. A similar growing season was found for cockle populations in the French Atlantic coast. The growth season may be related to the cycle of phytoplankton.

Grooved carpet shell

From Southern and Western England to the Iberian Peninsula, into the Mediterranean and along the
Atlantic coast of Morocco to Senegal. This species tends to bury itself in sand, muddy gravel below the mid-water level to few meters depth and usually occurring in quiet waters. In Rias Baixas, growth rates observed evolve according to the temperature cycle and annual productivity, being highest in spring, decreasing in summer until September and
almost stop growing from mid-autumn to mid-winter. In Ria Formosa and Huelva, this species presents a similar growth pattern, with a period of rapid growth occurring between March and October with, a maximum from March to June, followed by a growing stagnation period from November to February.

Manila clam

Originates from south-eastern Asia  occurring from the Zhuanghe River in Liaoning to the southern part of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong in China; and from the south of the Okhotsk Sea, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, through Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. It was introduced in the Mediterranean (Italy,
France, Sardinia, Romania) and Brittany, France, where it lives in the same habitat as the Grooved carpet shell. It was first introduced for culture in the Venice Lagoon, Italy in 1983. Cultivation is expanding on the Atlantic coast of Europe mainly in Spain, Portugal and France. This venerid bivalve lives buried, a few centimeter deep, sand, sand-silt, sand-pebble, muddy gravel and stiff clay of both intertidal and subtidal zones. It is a euryhaline species that inhabits the mouths of estuaries in which salinities range from 16 to 36, with anoptimum between 20 and 26. This species shows a similar growth pattern to the Grooved carpet shell with growth rates decreasing sharply during autumn and winter. In general, growth is extremely fast during the first 2-3 declining henceforth until attaining the maximum age of 7-8 years.

Pullet carpet shell

Distributed from northern Norway and the Baltic, the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean, Canaries to
South Africa. The Pullet carpet shell burrows in hard sand, muddy gravel or muddy sand at the base of rocks, or in dead shells, from the intertidal zone up to 40m depth. Often attached by a byssus. This species burrows into the
sediment to a maximum depth of around 5cm. Growth rate varies according to environmental conditions being faster during the first two-three years of life, declining afterwards and almost stopping growth when individuals are five years old, reaching maximum size at the age of six-seven years old.

More about the fishing methods

The fishermen use two fishing methods:

• Harvest on foot: grubber hoe, small hand rake, bullrake (similar

to hand-dredge but with a distinct retention system) and rakes.

• onboard with hand devices: bullrake.

Fishery tonnage

7000 - 8000 kg

Commercial market

The main market for clams is Spain

Actual eligibility date

28/05/2013

Certified as sustainable in  July 2011.

Summary

Species:  Sardines (Sardinops sagax)
Location:  Gulf of California, Mexico.
Fishing methods:  Purse Seine
Vessels: 36
Number of fisheries: 1

More about sardines

Pacific sardines are small schooling forage fish that grow up to 40 cm at the northern distribution areas and 20 cm at the Gulf of California. They are low level consumers that attain large biomasses and are therefore usually restricted to high productivity areas. While predominantly coastal, they are occasionally found as far as 200 nm offshore.

More about the fishing methods

Fish caught in the Mexican sardine fishery form large schools that are fished by purse seines which are hauled on board and landed mostly by fish pumps. Typical fishing boats are 25 m long with a 120 ton capacity, and main engine of about 520 HP. They are often equipped with refrigeration. Mean crew size is 8 fishermen. Nets have a mesh size of 25 mm. Fishing trips are usually short, 1-2 days, and are often guided by aerial surveys.

Commercial market

About 85% of the total production is used for reduction to fishmeal and mostly used for animal feeds.  Sardines are also packed in cans for sale into domestic and foreign markets.

Actual eligibility date

1st November 2010

First certified in March 2000, recertified in December 2006 and again in March 2012.

Summary

Species:  Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus)
Location:  Coast of Western Australia from Cape Leeuwin to Shark Bay.
Fishing methods:  Baited pots and traps
Number of fisheries:  1

Subscribe to RSS - add this to your reader to receive an update when new information on this fishery is added.

Do you source fish from this fishery?

Show your customers how the fish is caught – download and display this case study from our Net Benefits report.
Download Fishers' stories - Net Benefits 2009 - Western Australia rock lobster (PDF, 200kb)

More about rock lobster

Western rock lobster occurs off the western coast of Australia, with the postlarval stages inhabiting the continental shelf from 1 to 200 metres in depth. The highest densities occur in waters less than 60 metres deep. The species, Panulirus cygnus, is a spiny lobster with long antennae. The older juveniles and adult lobsters (except 'whites') assume a reddish-purple colour with each moult. Its life cycle includes a long oceanic larval stage (about 9 months), 3-6 years juvenile stage in shallow reefs and then become available to the fishery.

Fishing methods

Lobsters are harvested using baited pots and traps.

Fishery tonnage

5,500mt of western rock lobster in 2010/2011

More about the fishery

The 2nd recertification covers the 250 lobster vessels operating in the fishery.

The fishery has strict requirements in place including seasonal closures, minimum size requirements and a ban on catching breeding females. Data on the fishery has been kept since the 1960s and enables fisheries scientists to predict catches accurately and ensure that controls are adequate to keep the fishery operating at sustainable levels. Commercial fishers, processors and the Western Australian government work closely together to preserve the fishery’s future.

The fishery recently moved from an input (effort control) to an output (catch quota) management system, which controls the amount of catch fishers are able to take during the commercial season. This decision was made in close consultation with the Department of Fisheries Western Australia because of below-average recruitment rates in the fishery in recent years, and has meant a significant reduction in the volume of lobster taken from the fishery – a reduction of almost half from the 2005/06 catch – to ensure the sustainability of the rock lobster stocks.

A consequence of the introduction of these quota management measures has been a significant reduction in the number of pots being used in the fishery, which in turn has significantly reduced the fishery’s impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The fishery has also introduced Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLEDS) to minimise the mortality of sea lions and banned the use of bait bands that can entangle marine animals.

Commercial market

Western Australia rock lobster is the most valuable single-species fishery in Australia at an estimated value of $200M per year. Products from this fishery are sold to markets in Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, China, the USA and Europe.

Certified as sustainable in May 2013.

Summary

Species:  Atlantic halibut (hippoglossus hippoglossus)
Location:  The coastal waters off the coast of Canada near Nova Scotia and Newfoundland including part of the Grand banks and Georges bank, NAFO areas 3NOPs, 4VWX, and 5Zc, FAO statistical area 21.
Fishing methods:  Demersal long-line (fixed gear), Demersal trawl (mobile gear), gill net and handline.
Vessels:  approx 450
Number of fisheries: 1

More about Atlantic halibut

Atlantic halibut were first described by Linnaeus in 1758 as being in the Pleuronectidae, or right-eyed flatfish family. They are distinguished from other flat fish in the area by the concave tail and highly arched lateral line above the pectoral fin. The largest of the flatfish in Atlantic Canada, Atlantic halibut can grow to lengths of 250 cm and weigh in excess of 300kg.

Atlantic halibut has ranged in the western Atlantic from off the coast of Virginia, USA in the south to the waters of Disko Bay, Greenland in the north. They are generally found in waters 200 to 500 m with larger individuals found in the deep-water channels between the banks and Canadian continental shelf. Juveniles are found at shallower depths. They are demersal, living near the sea floor, at temperatures within a few degrees of 5˚C.

Atlantic halibut also range in the eastern Atlantic and are managed as separate stocks.

More about the fishing methods

Most Atlantic halibut are caught by demersal longline. Since the year 2000, 87% of the Atlantic halibut catch has been taken by longline. Demersal longline gear consists of a main line with hooks attached at intervals by snoods to shorter lengths of line that branch from the main line. The main line is weighted by an anchor at the terminal end and, in Atlantic Canada, the hooks are baited with Atlantic mackerel, squid, or herring. Demersal longlines are considered a fixed or stationary gear.

Atlantic halibut occur as a bycatch species in otter trawl, gill net and handline fisheries.

Fishery tonnage

1,760 metric tons in 2010

Commercial market

About 21 local Canadian companies supply Atlantic halibut to markets. Of those 21 suppliers, 11 are in Nova Scotia. The others are based in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador. Atlantic halibut are sold as fillets fresh and frozen. Predominant markets are in Canada, the US, and in the EU.

Actual eligibility date

1 January 2013.

Certified as sustainable in September 2005 and re-certified in August 2012.

Summary

Species:  Herring (Clupea harengus)
Location:  Within the Eastern English Channel, specifically between Beachy Head and Dungeness, and offshore to the six mile limit
Fishing methods:  Drift net
Vessels:  Fishing is undertaken by boats under 10 metres stade-launched from the beach at Hastings. Fishing for herring is at a relatively low level (around three to five vessels only)
Number of fisheries:  1

Subscribe to RSS - add this to your reader to receive an update when new information on this fishery is added.” under summary information.

Do you source fish from this fishery?

Show your customers how the fish is caught – download and display this case study from our Net Benefits report.
Download Fishers' stories - Net Benefits 2009 - Hastings herring and mackerel (PDF, 200kb)

More about herring

The herring is a pelagic small oily fish which is widespread in its distribution throughout the North Sea.

More about the fishing methods

The Hastings-based fleet uses a number of different gear types but the gear covered by this certification is the drift net. The herring drift nets used are monofilament drift nets of 55 mm (2”). These are usually set around 4 metres below the surface, with a total net depth of around 10 metres.

Fishery tonnage

10 tonnes

MSC status

Certified as sustainable in May 2013. 

Summary

Species: Japanese scallop (Patinopecten (Mizuhopecten) yessoensis)
Location: The hanging fishery (Hokkaido ‘Suika-shiki’) is undertaken in the Japan Sea and Funka Bay. The seabed fishery (Hokkaido ‘Keta-Ami’) is undertaken in the Sea of Okhotsk and Nemuro Straits. Both fishing areas are located in FAO statistical area 61.
Fishing methods: Hanging spat collectors, rope grown cultivation and seabed ranching and dredge.
Number of fisheries: 1

More about Japanese scallop

The Japanese scallop is a cold-water bivalve mollusc species, naturally distributed in coastal, sub-Arctic areas of the estern Pacific including the Japan Sea and southern Sea of Okhotsk, around Sakhalin Island, Hokkaido, and northern Honshu.

Japanese scallops are sessile and live in shallow depressions dug into sandy, sandy-gravel and gravelly seabeds. They feed on phytoplankton and on detritus collected from the seabed. The optimum range for feeding is in the range 5 – 20 oC, although the lower and upper limits of thermal tolerance are 4 and 22-23 oC respectively.

Japanese scallop growth is relatively fast, such that by year one they are 2-5 cm shell height, increasing to 5-9 cm and 16-80 g by year two, 8-12 cm and 60-170 g by year 3, and 10-15 cm and 110-300g by year three. Japanese scallops may reach 20 cm shell height and 1000 g at ten years of age.

More about the fishing methods

Wild spat collection on hanging spat collectors local to region of subsequent cultivation. Subsequent cultivation by either:
Hanging culture (Suika-shiki) scallops. Suspended culture with hanging rope/net arrangements.
Seabed culture (Keta-Ami) scallops. Seabed ranching and collection by scallop dredge.

Fishery tonnage

 In 2008 scallop production in Hokkaido Gyoren was 433,000 tonnes, 375,000 tonnes in 2007 and 393,000 tonnes in 2006.

Commercial market

Japanese domestic market (processors, traders and retailers).

Actual eligibility date

30th July 2012

Certified as sustainable in December 2011. 

Summary

Species:  Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
Location:   Western and Central Pacific in the EEZs of Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, FS Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. 
Fishing methods:  1. Purse seine setting on unassociated/ non FAD free schools
Number of fisheries: 1

More about Skipjack tuna

Skipjack are the smallest of the primary market species of tuna, generally not exceeding 20 kgs in size. They are widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean and are fished as surface schooling adults typically at 2-5 kgs in size. Whilst the majority of the stock biomass is believed to occur in tropical areas, warm poleward-flowing currents extend skipjack distribution to approximately 40o N and 40o S. A substantial amount of information on skipjack movement is available from tagging programmes. In general, skipjack movement is highly variable but is thought to be influenced by large-scale oceanographic variability. Growth and attainment of maturity are rapid relative to other tuna species though significant differences occur amongst individuals. The fishery primarily operates on just several age classes, and annual recruitment to the stock forms a large portion of the total biomass. Maturity may be attained within the first year (40cm), and skipjack are serial opportunistic spawners, under favourable conditions, with high fecundity.

More about the fishing methods

A purse seiner circles the school with a deep curtain of netting, Then the bottom of the net is pursed (closed) underneath the fish school by hauling a wire running from the vessel through rings along the bottom of the net and then back to the vessel, preventing the fish from "sounding", or swimming down to escape the net. Searching for the fish schools and assessing their size and direction of movement is an important part of the fishing operation. Sophisticated electronics, such as echo sounders, sonar, and track plotters, may be used to search for and track schools, assessing their size and movement and keeping in touch with the school while it is surrounded with the seine net.

Fishery tonnage

The PNA catch of free school (unassociated) skipjack in 2011 was 422,921 mt and 662,062 mt 2010

Commercial market

Landings of free school and log set skipjack sold into canneries based in the Pacific Island countries, or transhipped in port for processing outside the region. The market for canned tuna is international with the main market outlets including USA, Europe, Japan and Korea.

Certified as sustainable in April 2013. 

Summary

Species:  Snow Crab, Queen Crab (Chionoecetes opilio)
Location:  North Atlantic, FAO Statistical area 21
Fishing methods:  Pots
Number of fisheries: 1

More about snow crab

The snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, is a sub-arctic crab species of the family Oregoniidae. The main habitat of large male snow crabs is mud or mud/sand whereas smaller crabs are common on harder substrates. Snow crabs generally inhabit regions of very cold water (-1° to 5° C) and are energetically confined to cold areas. Temperature has a major influence on the production, early survival and recruitment to the commercial fishery, and recent stock assessments show that a cold oceanographic regime during snow crab early life history is associated with increased catch per unit effort (CPUE) and biomass indices 6-8 years later in the N&L fishery.

Snow crab life histories are characterised by sexual dimorphism and by the occurrence of a terminal moult, and these two characteristics have implications for any potential impact of the commercial fishery.  Following hatching in April to June, the planktonic larvae phase lasts 3 to 5 months during which time they go through a number of stages before settling on the bottom and taking on a benthic lifestyle.  As with other crustacean species, growth occurs through moulting with growth of approximately 20% between moults and once settled on the seabed the immature snow crabs subsequently moult through to juveniles, adolescents and adults.  Snow crabs do not continue to moult and grow throughout their lives and exhibit a terminal moult.  The size at which females reach terminal moult is much smaller than that for males giving rise to the sexually dimorphic appearance.  The terminal moult in females occurs when the female reaches sexual maturity and the abdomen widens substantially in order to carry the egg mass. This terminal moult occurs from 40 mm carapace width (CW) to about 75 mm CW, and so generally females do not achieve the minimum legal size of 95 mm CW.  The snow crab fishery is effectively therefore a male-only fishery. Mating occurs when the male crab holds the female until it moults and is available for mating. Whilst there are few predators of hard-shelled snow crabs, they are more vulnerable to predators when they are
soft-shelled following moulting, but generally the natural mortality rate of snow crabs is low.  Male snow crabs take 5-10 years to grow to commercial size (95mm CW) and are thought to live for about 5 years following their terminal moult, giving a life span of approximately 15 years.

More about the fishing methods

The fishery uses conical mesh traps, 4’ (1.2 m) in diameter at the base and 2’ (0.6 m) in diameter at the top, with a steel bar frame, weighing 20 – 30 lbs. (9 to 14 kg). The bottom of traps is made of large mesh netting (minimum mesh size is 5 ¼” (13.3 cm)).  Traps are fished in strings: 20-25 per string inshore, 80 to 120 per string offshore, and spaced 20 to 25 fathoms apart.  Anchors are used at the end of trap strings.  Soak times are generally 24 to 48 hrs.  Snow crab licenses allow a specific maximum number of pots to be deployed, with limits varying by area and size of vessel. Each trap is baited to attract the snow crab into the trap. In N&L the bait used is squid; either locally caught or Patagonian. Once commercial size snow crabs enter the trap they are unable to escape. The twine mesh in the traps is regulated to a minimum size of 5 ¼” to select male snow crab greater than or equal to 95 mm CW; smaller snow crab are able to escape through the twine mesh. However, non-targeted snow crabs are often retained in the traps and discarded after sorting on the fishing vessel.

Fishery tonnage

The total greenweight catch taken by vessels in 2009 was 44,000 t and 53,500 t in 2010. It is not known what proportion was purchased by the client.

Commercial market

The most important markets are the USA followed by Japan. Other buyers include China and Thailand who are reported to reprocess. Buyers in the Netherlands redistribute the product.

Actual eligibility date

16 April 2013

Certified as sustainable in February 2013

Summary

Species:  European flat (Ostrea edulis)
Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Location:  Oyster stocks of Eastern Scheldt (Oosterschelde) and Lake Grevelingen
(Grevelingenmeer). FAO area 27. ICES division IVc
Fishing methods:  Oyster dredge
Number of fisheries: 2

Fishery tonnage

2010 saw a production of about 35,000,000 pieces of Pacific Oysters and about 700,000
pieces of Native Oysters. This is typical annual production.

Commercial market

The larger part of the Dutch oyster output is exported to Belgium (50%). Other
export countries are Germany (8%), France (6%) and Italy (16%). The Dutch
market share in the European Union is an estimated 15%.

Actual eligibility date

11 March 2013

Certified as sustainable in December 2012. 

Summary

Species:  Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)  and Dover Sole (Solea solea).
Location:  The North Sea in FAO statistical area 27, sub areas ICES IV a,b and c.
Fishing methods:  Various trawl methods.
Vessels:  250 maximum
Number of fisheries: 2

Download the MSC fishery factsheet: Cooperative Fishery Organisation (CVO) North Sea plaice and sole (PDF, 305kb)

More about plaice and sole

Plaice
Plaice is a demersal species generally living on sandy substrates but may also be found on mud and gravel. The species is easily identified throughout its life history. As juveniles and adults, plaice have a striking appearance and can be readily distinguished from other flatfish species by their general colour and markings. The eyed, right hand, side is greenish-brown with bright red to orange spots on it and the underside is a pearly white. This coloration varies with the substrate into which it very lightly merges. Plaice is a shallow water species found from the near coast as juveniles down to around 150 metres in northern waters. In the North Sea it is generally found in depths less than 100 metres. Fecundity varies from around.30,000 eggs per female at first maturity to over 300,000 eggs depending on age. A 35cm female produces between 60,000 – 100,000 eggs per year or about 265 eggs per gram body weight. Fecundity has been shown to change noticeably over time possibly in relation to changes in stock abundance.  Male fish mature at around 2 to 3 years old whilst female fish mature a year or two later. In recent years there has been a change, with maturity occurring at younger ages and smaller sizes than in the past. This is thought to be partially a fisheries induced genetic change caused by fish which are genetically programmed to mature later at a larger size being caught before they have the opportunity to reproduce and pass on their genes. Prior to spawning there is some movement of fish between the southern North Sea and eastern Channel. Spawning begins in December in the southern North Sea and English Channel and continues through to March and April further north. The eggs are planktonic, around 2mm in diameter, and are easily distinguished, due to their large size, from other eggs present in the plankton at the same time. The larvae are also easily distinguished from other fish larvae by their general shape, size and pigmentationThe diet of post-settlement plaice is well known being dominated by polychaetes, crustaceans and molluscs.

Dover sole
The largest fisheries occur in the North Sea but there are also important fisheries in the Irish Sea, Skagerak and Kattegat and throughout the English Channel and off the French Atlantic coast as far as the Bay of Biscay.  In the North Sea and Channel, sole show a seasonal migration.  During summer adult soles are most abundant in waters down to about 40m depth but as temperatures fall in the autumn and winter they migrate out into deeper, warmer water. Spawning begins in late winter and spring, starting in more southerly latitudes first. Sole produce a planktonic egg about 1.2mm in diameter with numerous oil globules. The larvae hatch after 5 days at 15oC increasing to around 15 days at 7oC The planktonic larval phase lasts for a further three to four weeks, depending on sea temperature. During this time they have been subjected to the residual drift and will generally metamorphose and settle on the seabed close inshore. Adult and juvenile sole are higher level trophic feeders, feeding mainly on amphipods, worms and bivalves. They are most active at night searching for benthic prey, which are detected by olfactory and tactile stimuli

More about the fishing methods

The vessels under the main assessment include three main gear types:

Twin-rig trawls
Twin-rig vessels operate with two otter trawls towed off the stern and held together with a chain clump. Different cod-end mesh sizes are used depending on the location fished. North of the designated flatfish area fishing is carried out with cod-end mesh greater than 110mm. South of this, vessels are required to fish with smaller mesh gear in order to quali fy for additional days at sea and the mesh size used is 80-100mm. There is also a Neprops directed fishery using 80mm mesh. The twin-gear is relatively lightweight and is suited to operating on sandy seabed types.  Fishing the gear over rocky ground would risk damage to the gear

Out-rig trawl
The out-rig is essentially a light otter trawl fished in the same manner as beam trawls, with two 600 kg otter boards and one net fished from a boom on each side of the vessel with three 10 mm ticklers of 9-11 m length.  This allows different grounds to be fished than when using beam trawls, though they tend to be neither soft nor hard, which is best for plaice and turbot with a 110 -120 mm cod-end. Rock-hopper gear can be used on hard ground, when catches contain more cod and less plaice.  Towing speed is very important, and can be as slow as 2-3 knots on hard ground, whilst more weight is used at faster speeds when the net opening may be reduced to 22 m with a headline height of 50 cm

Flyshoot
Flyshoot seining is a method of herding fish into the path of the net using long ropes or warps dragged
over the seabed to encircle fish. Fishing takes place by dropping the fishing rope attached to a buoy and steaming in a circle to pick up the dropped rope.  The two ropes are hauled in by the winches until about 50% of the rope is aboard.  The vessel then steams ahead hauling the net aboard. The net is closed for 15-20 minutes only and towed for about 0.5miles before completing hauling. As a result fish and discards are in very good condition when emptied from the net. Since flyshoot relies on fish seeing the ropes, it only takes place in daylight. Mesh size varies depending on species and area.

Fishery tonnage

The tonnage available from this fishery certificate is around 15,000mt plaice and 500mt of sole.

Commercial market

Whole and filleted (fresh & frozen), breaded fillets sold worldwide.

Actual eligibility date

21 August 2011

Certified as sustainable in March 2013. 

Summary

Species:  American lobster (Homarus americanus)
Location:  Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)Lobster Management Area 1
Fishing methods:  Trap
Number of fisheries: 1

More about American lobster

The American clawed lobster (Homarus americanus, L) is a slow-growing, long-lived, shelter seeking
benthic crustacean whose regional abundance is highest in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Maineand the Canadian maritimes. Although most abundant in shallow coastal waters between four and fifty meters in depth, particularly in areas and embayments with cobble/boulder substrates, the lobster also occurs out to depths of 700m, where it inhabits canyons and undulations in sandy mud bottoms along the edge of the continental shelf from Sable Island to New Jersey and North Carolina.

Shelter provides protection from predators at critical life history events such as moulting, reproduction, and egg-extrusion, and is therefore particularly important for newly settled post-larvae, growing juveniles, and mating and egg-carrying females. In rocky terrain juvenile lobsters tend to stay within the confines of their shelters up to about 25-35 mm CL (3 to 4 years) after which they begin to forage more widely and adopt adolescent and eventually adult behaviour patterns. Growth rate varies regionally and with depth, due to differences in temperature, food availability, and activity.

Lobsters feed on a range of animals including crabs, molluscs, polychaete worms, and sea urchins, as well as fish, algae and other lobsters.

More about the fishing methods

Today most lobster traps - also known locally as “pots” - used in Maine’s fishery are constructed of plastic coated wire. They usually have two funnelled openings called “heads”, through which lobsters enter the first compartment commonly called the “kitchen” to feed on the bait – usually herring. After feeding, lobsters may venture through the inner funnel or parlour head into the compartment called the “parlour”. The traps are required to have unobstructed vents or gaps in the parlour section to allow undersize lobsters to escape. These may be rectangular or circular. The trap must also be equipped with a biodegradable panel – or “ghost panel”- which is designed to release lobsters from traps which are lost while fishing. Often times, the ghost panel and escape vent are combined into one unit by using ferrous metal rings to hold the plastic escape vent in place. The design of the trap is specified in regulation. Trap limits are in place within the fishery with a maximum of 800 traps being applied.

Fishery tonnage

 Average of 33,000 t from 2000-2007

Commercial market

Up to 70% of Maine lobster is shipped to Canada to be processed. This is predominantly new-shell lobster that cannot withstand long distance shipping to Maine's hard-shelled customers. The majority of Maine's hard-shell lobsters are shipped live to the Europe, Florida, the West Coast to major retail and restaurant chains such as Walmart, Kroger's and Red Lobster.Many are shipped to wholesalers in Boston and New York City.

Actual eligibility date

8 March 2013