Cornwall sardine, UK
Last Updated: 16th February 2010
Number of fisheries: 1
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Fishery species
Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)
MSC assessment status
Following a 30-day period of comment on the Draft Report for the Cornwall sardine, UK, fishery, the Certification Body, MRAG Americas, has met to consider the report of the assessment team, the report of the Peer Review panel and all stakeholder comments. The Determination reached by the certification body is that the Cornwall sardine, UK, fishery should be certified in accordance with the MSC Standard. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A DETERMINATION, NOT A FINAL CERTIFICATION RESULT. THIS FISHERY IS THEREFORE NOT YET CERTIFIED, NOR IS IT ABLE TO USE THE MSC LOGO ON ANY PRODUCTS.
There is now a 15 working day period during which a party may lodge a statement of intent to object to the determinations reached. For further information on the objections process, including the grounds upon which an objection can be made, please email objections@msc.org or write to the MSC London Office (Please follow this link for the MSC London Office address).
Any intent to file an objection should first be addressed to the certification body, for the attention of Bob Trumble at MRAG Americas, and copied to the MSC's Chief Executive, Mr Rupert Howes at objections@msc.org, by 5pm GMT, 18th June 2010.
Please refer to the assessment downloads section for further information.
Fishery location
Within the six mile limit of the Cornish coast, within the territorial limits of the United Kingdom. Fishing is undertaken from ports in Cornwall, primarily Mevagissey and Newlyn.
Geographical Area
ICES Management Area VIIe and VIIf.
Fishing Method
Fishing for sardine is at a relatively low level, with 13-14 vessels using ring nets and 12 vessels using drift nets.
Fishery management
The European Union (EU) has authority over basic management in EU waters, outside of national jurisdiction, with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The EU sets basic management for a variety of species, including setting TAC when determined necessary. The EU allocates TACs to European fishing nations, which have responsibility for management of domestic fleets. Sea Fish Committees (in this case the Cornish Sea Fish Committee (CSFC)) in coordination with DEFRA, have authority for management within the UK national waters. A UK-based minimum landing size applies, along with mesh size limits, consistent with the minimum sizes set by the EU. The Cornish sardines are significantly larger than the minimum size. Sardine is classed as a ‘non-pressure’ stock within the UK 6-mile zone (national jurisdiction), and so no TAC or quotas are set.
Commercial market
The fish is processed in several ways: fresh or frozen, head and gutted, whole and tinned. Fresh fish are packaged in ice and cool boxes for transportation to customers. Remaining fish are primarily frozen and packaged in boxes for frozen storage and then onward to customers.
Assessment timeline
The remaining assessment process is expected to take five months and is scheduled for completion in or around December 2009. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The proposed target eligibility date is the 1st January 2010.
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).
Target eligibility date
The target eligibility date for the Cornwall sardine fishery is the 1st October 2009. Please see the announcement ralting to this date by following this link.
