The Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea herring fishery has entered into Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment. If successful, it will be the first fishery on the Irish Sea herring stock to be certified as a sustainable and well managed fishery.
The fishery will be assessed against the MSC’s Environmental Standard for Sustainable Fishing by independent certifier Food Certification International.
About the Fishery
Three NIPSG vessels catch Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in the Irish Sea using pelagic trawls and they operate seasonally, between June and November. The total catch for last year was just over 5,200 tonnes of herring, with fresh and frozen herring being sold into the UK and other EU markets.
Alan McCulla OBE, Chief Executive of the Anglo-North Irish FPO Ltd and Secretary to the NIPSG said, “We are eager to deliver MSC certification for Irish Sea herring. In many ways it was herring that formed the foundation of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland, so it is fitting that this fishery represents our first venture into this important process.”
UK & Ireland Fisheries Outreach Manager, Claire Pescod “I am delighted to welcome the NIPSG Irish Sea herring fishery into MSC assessment. If granted, MSC certification will provide the Northern Irish herring industry with an independent demonstration of sustainability to markets that are increasingly looking for MSC labeled herring. With Irish Sea herring supplying the UK and other European markets, certification will increase market potential and add value to the NI pelagic industry as well as providing even further MSC herring choice for the UK and European shopper. I wish them all the best with their assessment.”
Getting involved
The assessment is expected to take around 12 months and anyone with a stake in the fishery is invited to be involved. Food Certification International has already identified 6 groups of potential stakeholders. If you have information to contribute or would like to take part, please contact Melissa McFadden at FCI on [email protected]