Unit of certification
The unit of certification is the unit that is assessed by certifiers against the MSC environmental standard. It is defined as the fishery or fish stock (a biologically distinct unit) combined with the fishing method/gear and practice (the vessel/s) pursuing that stock. This is set at the beginning of the assessment.
The fishery: Unit of certification
The certified Hastings fleet pelagic fishery is defined as:
|
Species |
Herring (Clupea harengus) and Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) |
|
Geographical range of fishing operations |
Within the Eastern English Channel (ICES Division VIId) and specifically between Beachy Head and Dungeness and offshore to the six mile limit. |
|
Method of capture |
Fishing is undertaken by under 10 m boats launched from the beach at Hastings (‘Stade-launched boats). Fishing for pelagic species (herring and mackerel) is at a relatively low level (around three to five vessels only) using drift nets. |
|
Stock |
The fishery proposed for certification is part of the overall fishing pressure on the stocks within ICES Management Area VIId (see below). Herring – The stock under assessment is North Sea Autumn Spawning stock in ICES Divisions IVc, and VIId (the Downs Herring Stock). Mackerel – The stock under assessment is the Western Component of the North East Atlantic mackerel stock. This is defined as mackerel spawning in the western area (ICES areas VI, VII, VIII a, b, d, e). |
|
Management |
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM), DEFRAI |
|
Client group |
Hastings Borough Council and the Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society |
