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Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group Ltd Atlanto Scandian herring

spsg-atlanto-scandian-herring.jpgCertified as sustainable on 9th March 2010.

Summary

Species:  Herring (Clupea harengus)
Location:  ICES Sub-area I, IIa & IIb, V & XIV. EU waters, international waters and the EEZ of Norway and Faroe.
Fishing methods:  Scottish RSW pelagic trawl fleet
Vessels:  25
Number of fisheries: 1

More about herring

The Atlanto-Scandian herring is the largest herring stock in the world and the largest stock of any commercial species in the North Atlantic. It is a highly migratory northern herring stock, widely distributed throughout large parts of the North East Atlantic. The Atlanto-Scandian herring is distinguishable from other herring stocks by its greater number of vertebrae, and larger overall size.

More about the fishing methods

The fleet included within the scope of this certification is the Scottish pelagic Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) pelagic trawl (single and pair) fleet. Over recent decades substantial concentration of the pelagic fleet has taken place, with far fewer, far larger vessels now remaining. A shift in technology towards storage of fish onboard in refrigerated seawater tanks has also occurred, initially supported by the use of very large purse seine nets. In the last fifteen years, however, further technological change (particularly in sonar, and three dimensional imaging of the relationship between vessel, net and fish shoal) has favoured the use of large mid-water trawls. The mid-water trawl is now the gear of choice in the Scottish fleet.

Fishery tonnage

In 2009 the total allowable catch (TAC) for Atlanto-Scandian herring was set at 1,643,000 tonnes. The Scottish fleet received an initial quota allocation of 24,046 tonnes, representing 1.5% of the overall TAC and around 22% of the EU’s overall allocation for the fishery.

Commercial market

The greater proportion of herring landings is destined for human consumption markets with a minor proportion going for conversion to fishmeal where markets dictate.  During 2009 to date around one quarter of landings by Scottish vessels have been into the domestic market and three quarters abroad.

Actual eligibility date

1st February 2010

 

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