One of the biggest fisheries in the Pomorye region of the White Sea coast and surrounding areas in Russia, Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet (ATF), has been certified to the Marine Stewardship (MSC) Fisheries Standard.
This fishery’s cod and haddock can now be sold with the MSC ecolabel, indicating a sustainable, well-managed source. ATF has a history that goes back to the 1920s and it is one of the oldest fleets in the North of Russia. This is a demersal trawl fishery conducted by five vessels inside the Barents and Norwegian seas.
‘Atlantic cod and haddock are in great demand in the global whitefish markets, and in Russia as well, said
Camiel Derichs, MSC Regional Director Europe. ‘Various international fisheries targeting cod and haddock in North-East Atlantic are already MSC certified. It is therefore a great accomplishment that JSC Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet have now also successfully become certified. We are proud to see ATF join the many other fisheries working hard to protect our marine ecosystems. We look forward to seeing the first MSC ecolabelled products from this fishery on the markets.’
In 2014, the annual quota was set at 30,803 tonnes for cod and 5,296 tonnes for haddock. The main products from this fishery are frozen-at-sea cod and haddock (headed and gutted) and cod and haddock fillets.
‘Through the process of becoming MSC certified we’ve learnt a lot about the environmental problems that exist in our traditional fishing areas in the Barents and Norwegian Seas,’ Sergey Nesvetov, executive director of ATF. ‘For us, MSC certification is not only a means to access new markets, but an opportunity to work in collaboration with stakeholders to improve the marine environment especially in the northern seas.’
Acoura Marine Limited, an accredited third-party conformity assessment body carried out the assessment of the fishery over 15 months.
Martin Gill, managing director of third-party assessment body said that ATF has worked hard to meet the standards required.
‘It’s our hope that their success will encourage other fisheries to consider improving sustainability and exploring MSC certification. With consumer demand for the label continuing to grow rapidly, we believe ATF are very well placed to benefit from their commitment to sustainable fishing practices.’
