According to the press release this is the third in line that Danish fishery got MSC label. With this the Danish North Sea plaice fishery will now be eligible to display the blue MSC ecolabel in the market place. Consumers can now make a positive choice to buy Danish plaice that comes from a certified sustainable source.
The DFPO Danish North Sea Plaice fishery comprises close to 300 vessels using Danish seine and set nets to catch plaice in the North Sea. The fishery originally entered three different gear types for MSC assessment but the trawler component of this fishery is still in process and is being examined by an Independent Adjudicator (IA) following an objection raised by stakeholders.
There is no doubt that plaice is a popular tablefish in Denmark, Sweden and Northern Germany and most of the catch is exported as either chilled whole fish to Northern European markets, or sold as frozen fillets across Europe. DFPO president Kurt Madsen said that they are proud of the fish and proud of the label. He added that plaice has also been the bread and butter of the Danish North Sea fisheries for as long as any fisherman can remember and it still is for the majority of vessels – large and small alike.
Minna Epps, Manager for the Baltic Region said that there is a strong demand for high quality, sustainable plaice from the North Sea. She is happy to see the DFPO North Sea Plaice fishery achieving certification and place itself in a strong position to meet that demand and at the same time safeguard supply for the future. The primary goal of the DFPO is to secure the right balance between supply and demand for the seafood its members land, through assuring and improving the quality, availability and market conditions of the products.
