Last Updated: 7 February 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Japanese scallop (Patinopecten (Mizuhopecten) yessoensis)
MSC assessment status
The conformity assessment body, Intertek Moody Marine, has proposed 2 peer reviewers for the review of the Draft Japanese scallop hanging and seabed enhanced fishery Assessment Report.
Fishery location
The hanging fishery (Hokkaido ‘Suika-shiki’) is undertaken in the
Japan Sea and Funka Bay. The seabed fishery (Hokkaido ‘Keta-Ami’) is
undertaken in the Sea of Okhotsk and Nemuro Straits. Both fishing
areas are located in FAO statistical area 61.
Fishing method
Wild spat collection on hanging spat collectors local to region of subsequent cultivation. Subsequent cultivation by either:
Hanging culture (Suika-shiki) scallops. Suspended culture with hanging rope/net arrangements.
Seabed culture (Keta-Ami) scallops. Seabed ranching and collection by scallop dredge.
Fishery management
The Department of Fisheries and Forestry of the Hokkaido Prefecture
maintains management responsibility for the Suika-shiki and Keta-Ami
fisheries, and issues permits to that allow the Cooperatives to
prosecute the scallop fisheries within the designated districts. Each
vessel that is operated in the fishery must have a permit.
Commercial market
Japanese domestic market (processors, traders and retailers).
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is scheduled for completion around October 2011. Please see the download
section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is the 1st April 2011.
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).
Tonnage of the fishery
In 2008 scallop production in Hokkaido Gyoren was 433,000 tonnes, 375,000 tonnes in 2007 and 393,000 tonnes in 2006.
