Last Updated: 2 April 2008

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Fishery species

Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

MSC Assessment Status

The certification body, MRAG Americas, has announced the release of the final Performance Indicators and Scoring Guideposts (PI&SGs) and SICA table that will be used to evaluate the Cornish Sardine fishery against the MSC Principples and Criteria.

The Certification Body, MRAG Americas, has announced that the Cornish Sardine fishery is now entering the information gathering phase of the assessment.

The primary objective of this stage is to collect information on the fishery and in particular to speak to representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery.

Meetings will be carried out over the period 26- 27 June 2008 in Newlyn, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Any stakeholder with information on this fishery that should be considered in the assessment, or who wishes to meet with MRAG should contact Mr Bob Trumble of MRAG, no later than 18 June 2008.

The assessment will use newly developed methodological guidance based on a precautionary risk assessment approach, to compensate for lack of information. The MSC will use this report and reports from other assessments of small scale and data deficient fisheries in this project to evaluate the new approach and to inform a decision on future adoption of the guidance as a component of the MSC’s assessment process.

Fishery information

The fishery under consideration is the drift-net and ring-net sardine fishery in the area of jurisdiction of the Cornish Sea Fisheries Committee up to six miles off the Cornish Coast.

The fishery remains an important part of Cornwall’s economy. A diverse fleet of vessels sail from ports, harbours and coves dotted around the 329 mile Cornish Coastline. The fishery involves 60-70 fishermen in season.