The State of the Water Report for the UK and Ireland is the first of its kind and provides a detailed analysis of the positive effect that MSC certification is having on the fisheries that have chosen to be assessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard.
Blue ecolabel is key driver of sustainability in UK fishing industry
It outlines evidence of how certification provides a credible and robust measure of the health of certified fish stocks, how these fisheries minimise their impact on the marine environment, and how the management measures they use ensure that this good practice is maintained.
There have been 146 improvements since 2001 to make the UK’s fishing practices far more sustainable. Sustainable fisheries have healthier fish stocks and minimise their impact on the marine environment.
In the report
Case Studies: Leading change in, on and around the water
Discard monitoring
Fishermen in the North Sea and off the west coast of Scotland fishing for coley now have digital cameras on deck to monitor whether they also catch any common skate. If they do, this critically endangered species is returned live back to the sea.
Acoustic deterrents
The introduction of a Dolphin Deterrent Device on board all vessels at the MSC certified hake fishery in Cornwall. The sound waves from this acoustic pinger are successfully deterring dolphins and other cetaceans from the fleet’s fishing nets.
ETP reporting
Clam and cockle fishermen in Poole Harbour in Dorset were given training and educational materials to help them identify protected species, as part of a project that received funding from the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund, a global fund providing grants to support fisheries on the sustainability journey.