Leading French retailer, Carrefour, has supported the artisanal sole fishery in the Eastern Channel and North Sea to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification as sustainable and well managed.
This milestone signals the effectiveness of collaboration between fisheries and retailers, and how such partnerships have the power to improve the health of fish stocks while sustaining hope for the communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods.
The fishery is part of the FROM Nord producers’ organisation, owners of 83 vessels that operate between the Hauts-de-France and Haute-Normandie regions.
Thierry Missonnier, Director of FROM Nord, explains: "We are pleased to be able to prove that our fishing practices are sustainable. We are conscious of the need for a more collaborative approach to make sure of this in the future. Talks with the Regional Advisory Councils are underway and we are negotiating additional guarantees for the good management of this fishery and to assure consumers that it comes from a healthy stock.”
Carrefour extends its range of sustainable seafood products to better preserve biodiversity
This is the first time in France that a distributor has supported a producers’ organisation in the MSC assessment process. Of the 10 species of fish most commonly purchased by French households, sole is of prime concern in terms of stock vitality.
Through this partnership, Carrefour is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and its support for the local community and the relationship has with key industry players from which the brand sources its products on a daily basis.
The fishery assessment process lasted 17 months while scientists considered the impact of all the French, Belgian, English and Dutch sole fishing operations due to the international nature of the stock. Today the fishery is deemed sustainable and well managed, hence its MSC certification.
Ongoing improvements
With the aim of ensuring ongoing progress, the FROM Nord fishery is working with other countries with the same sole stocks. Together they will work to formalise a management plan as advised by scientists.
Bruno Lebon, Carrefour's Head of Fresh Produce, says: "Helping fisheries achieve sustainability enables us to offer our customers a wide range of seafood for now and for future generations. In 2008, we chose the MSC label to demonstrate this commitment. Our support during the MSC certification of the sole fishery illustrates our engagement. Our aim is to help develop sustainable fishing practices in France.”
The FROM Nord producers’ organisation has established measures to regulate their activities.
In the last two years, the organisation made a decision to reduce fishing activities by 10% by reducing the number of authorised days at sea or limit the power of the fishing vessels. They also require that Fishing licences by the Regional Committee for Sea Fishing and Farming are renewed each year.
Since January 2015, satellite-based vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have been put on all boats to provide accurate data on vessel location, route and speed. A maximum net length has also been agreed (1km per m of ship, 12km maximum for the majority of boats). In addition to these, some coastal areas are closed to fishing as a measure to protect the juvenile fish and growing habitats.
On management, Edouard Le Bart, MSC Country Manager for France, says: “Achieving MSC certification demonstrates that FROM Nord’s sole fishery in the Eastern Channel and North Sea perfectly is well-managed and sustainable. The certification presents FROM Nord with an opportunity to keep improving and meet the expectations of consumers who want to choose sustainable seafood from a sustainable source”.