Japanese seafood company Maruto Suisan Co., Ltd has entered the assessment with an oyster fishery in the Seto Inland Sea against the MSC standard for sustainable fisheries. The targeted fishery is one of Maruto’s partner oyster fisheries, which is operated in Okucho, Setouchi City in Okayama Prefecture. In 2018, its annual catch amounted to roughly 1,500 tons.
Maruto Suisan processes and sells oyster products based in Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture. The targeted fishery operates in hanging method and it is the first hanging oyster fishery entering the assessment against the MSC standard.
What the applicant says
The President of Maruto Suisan, Mr. Kimihiro Kokubo, states: “Oysters are the core business for all our group members. In recent years, we have encountered a noticeable change in the demand for oysters. It motivated us to enter the assessment to gain the globally recognised MSC certification under the guidance of Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd. This will enable us to provide consumers with proof of our continuous commitment toward safety and sustainability. We look forward to working with producers and the fishery cooperative in what will mark a new step in the history of our oyster fishery.”
What the MSC says
Kozo Ishii, the Program Director for MSC’s Japan office, commented: “Companies over the world are stepping up efforts to meet the SDGs (United Nation’s sustainable development goals). With the increasing awareness towards ethical consumerism and the hosting of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the demand for MSC-certified seafood has drastically increased in Japan. Once the oyster fishery is successfully assessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard, it will add to the list of certified species available from Japanese fisheries. I commend Maruto Suisan for making this important decision to undergo assessment and I sincerely hope that their efforts will result in certification.
About the certifier
Independent certifier Control Union Pesca will conduct the assessment, which will focus on the target species' sustainability, the fishery’s impact on the environment, and its management system. Stakeholders interested in participating in the assessment should contact Cora Seip at [email protected].
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