The Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation herring fishery has applied for assessment under the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainable and well managed fisheries. The DPPO herring fishery is the second Danish fishery to enter full assessment this year and, if successful will be eligible to carry the MSC eco-label on its products.
The DPPO was established in 1984 and currently comprises 8 vessels including pelagic trawlers and purse seines. The stock of herring under assessment is the autumn spawning stock in the North Sea and Eastern Channel (ISCES divisions IV a, b, c, VIId and IIa)which has also been the subject of previous assessments for the PFA North Sea herring, SPSG herring and Astrid Fiske ‘Maatjes’ herring fisheries. Much of the 26, 165 tonnes of herring caught by the DPPO vessels is exported to Germany.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC says: “I am delighted to see the DPPO herring fishery enter full assessment. Producers’ organisations like the DPPO are making a huge difference and it is particularly gratifying to see such a long-standing organisation make the move towards certified sustainability. Germany is the biggest market for MSC fish worldwide with around a quarter of a billion US dollars (approx 170 million euros) worth of MSC labelled seafood sold each year and I’m sure that the German processors and retailers will watch the DPPO herring fishery’s progress with great interest.”
The assessment will be carried out by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a certifier with head quarters in Norway. DNV is currently going through the accreditation process to carry out MSC fisheries assessment.
