Two new pelagic fishing groups have joined the multinational MSC assessment for North Atlantic blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou). The Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG) and vessels from Compagnie-des-Pêches de Saint Malo join pelagic vessels from Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania and The Netherlands to be assessed. Both companies already hold MSC certificates for herring (SPSG) and saithe (Companie-des-Peches de St Malo) respectively. The addition of the two new fleets brings the total catch under assessment to over 100,000 tonnes.
Camiel Derichs, Director Europe for the MSC welcomed the move: "By bringing together a large, multinational group of fishers to bring the North Atlantic blue whiting fishery into assessment, this group has already realised savings on assessment costs and has shown how they are already working together to improve the fishery’s management. The addition of the new French and Scottish fleets strengthens that group and I hope we will see many more fisheries adopting a similar model in the future."
Getting involved
The assessment is being carried out by independent auditors MacAlister Elliott and Partners (MEP) and aims to complete to include the catches in the 2015 fishing season. Anyone with an interest in the fishery is invited to participate and MEP have already identified 40 stakeholders. Anyone who would like to participate should contact Chrissie Sieben on [email protected]
More information
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