Sustainability notes

This is an overview of how the Hastings Fleet Dover sole fishery scored in assessment against the MSC standard. For the certifiers evaluation please download the full public certification report with detailed information on the performance of this fishery against the criteria of the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing.

The fishery scored as follows in assessment against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. The highest possible score for each principle is 100 and a fishery must score at least 80 against each principle to get certified:

Sustainability strengths

Some of the points on which the fishery scored over 90 are outlined below.

Principle 1: the state of the fish stock

• The target species, its life history, distribution and migrations are well understood to allow the effects of the fishery to be evaluated.
• Fleet description, fishing method and gear types are well known throughout the fishery and the assessment Working Group regularly review the size and modes operandi of these fleets and their impact on the stock.  The effects of fishing can be monitored and regulated effectively.

Principle 2: the impact of the fishery on the marine environment

• Fishery-related impacts on the benthic habitat are considered minor and affected habitats and species are able to recover rapidly in this dynamic inshore environment.

Principle 3: the fishery management systems 

• The management system is consistent with the cultural context, scale and intensity of the fishery. The Hastings trammel net sole fishery is small scale with annual catches in the region of less than 100 tonnes. Their allocated quota is administered through the local Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society in a manner entirely appropriate to the size and cultural context of the fishery. The Hastings fishery is regulated by a well established framework consistent with traditional regional practices.  The fishery is also consistent with all International Agreements and Conventions.

Challenges

In order to ensure its continuing sustainable operation this fishery made a commitment to improving its performance where it scored between 60-80. Some of the actions the fishery has committed to are: 

• Misreporting in the offshore fishery and under-reporting in the inshore fisheries has been identified as a significant potential source of uncertainty in the stock assessment and in forecasts for this stock. The data requirements of the relevant scientific agency (CEFAS) should be determined and these requirements should be met from within the fishery.
• Interactions of the fishery with endangered, threatened or protected species appear limited but are not formally quantified. Such interactions may be with groups such as seabirds, sea mammals and shad. Records of incidental catches (of sea birds, sea mammals etc) should be maintained and made available through an appropriate body such as the Sea Fisheries Committee.