Scotland's sustainable seafood sector has received a boost with the return of Rockall haddock, caught off the country's west coast, to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) programme for sustainable fishing.
The Rockall haddock fishery, located 250 miles west of the Outer Hebrides, has regained certification to the MSC Fisheries Standard, joining the certified North Sea haddock fishery on Scotland's east coast. Originally certified in 2018, the fishery was suspended in 2022 after some vessels were found to have entered protected areas containing vulnerable marine ecosystems.
In response, the fishery entered the MSC Fishery Improvement Program and implemented a range of measures to address the issues identified. These included enhanced access to Vessel Monitoring System data to help vessels avoid closed areas, strengthened fleet management practices, and improved self-reporting procedures. Following these improvements, the fishery has successfully met the requirements of independent assessors and regained certification.
The certification is valid until 2031 and adds an additional 8,600 tonnes of sustainable haddock to the market in time for the end of Sustainable Seafood September. Scottish haddock features in the MSC’s annual campaign which has the slogan Buy Blue, Protect Dinner to highlight how sustainable fishing practices will keep our favourite meals on the table for generations to come. The news provides a timely boost to the 30-strong fleet that lands the fish in Ullapool, Scrabster, Kinlochbervie and Peterhead for retail and hospitality across the UK.
Mike Park said “Rockall haddock is a valuable fishery for the Scottish seafood industry, providing economic benefits throughout the supply chain, from fishing vessels and processors to markets at home and overseas. Regaining MSC certification reinforces Scotland's reputation as a producer of high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood."
Lewis Tattersall, Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager for UK and Ireland, said: “Rockall haddock’s certification is good news for the fishery, the wider industry and anyone who enjoys sustainable Scottish seafood.
“With its steadfast commitment to continually improving its harvest strategy, fishing methods, vessel monitoring and data collection, the Rockall Haddock fishery shows how the MSC’s Improvement Program can support industry-led fishery improvements. These actions both protect stocks and the wider marine environment, like the deep-sea ecosystems off Rockall. After their hard work the Scottish Fisheries Sustainable Accreditation Group can look forward to all the benefits that five years of MSC certification will bring.”