Since the last round-up of March 2014, six fisheries from the Americas and Europe became MSC certified. A further ten from around the world have entered voluntary independent assessment to the MSC standard.
North American sustainable milestones
June 2014 saw the certification of the most complex and diverse fishery so far. The US West Coast limited entry groundfish fishery entered assessment in 2010 and finally received MSC certification for stocks of 13 different species.
Further North in Manitoba, Canada, the Waterhen Lake Walleye and Northern Pike Commercial Gillnet fishery was also rewarded for its well-managed freshwater operations.
Two further Canadian fisheries, Canada/Newfoundland 3Ps cod Canada/Newfoundland 3Ps cod and the Gaspésie lobster trap, recently entered the independent assessment process.
Boost for European white fish
The constant high demand for certified sustainable white fish will be aided by the certifications of the 1800 tonne Spanish Grupo Regal hake longline fishery, as well as Russian Federation Barents sea cod and haddock, which brings in around 6000 tonnes collectively.
More MSC certified herring
Elsewhere in northern waters, Samherji Norwegian & Icelandic herring trawl and seine joins an impressive league of sustainable and well-managed Atlantic fisheries.
Two further herring operations began the assessment process. The From Nord North Sea pelagic trawl became the latest, entering in May. April saw Swedish and Irish fisheries joining forces with already certified fisheries from the UK, Denmark and The Netherlands in the SPSG, DPPO, PFA, SPFPO & KFO Atlanto-Scandian purse seine and pelagic trawl.
Other fisheries in assessment
In Europe the Greenland lumpfish and Basse Normandy Granville Bay whelk fisheries began their assessments in May.
In June, the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) purse seine anchovy fishery became the first European anchovy operation to enter assessment.
On the other side of the world, New Zealand's Deepwater Group Ltd have entered three fisheries into the process:
New Zealand orange roughy
New Zealand Arrow squid
New Zealand oreo