The last weeks have improved prices for the North Sea Plaice. But the fishermen does not achieve a reasonable price mark-up for the MSC fish, covering the additional costs for sustainable MSC fishery. To high light this a Danish trawler landed North Sea Plaice without MSC label last week at the fish auction in Urk, Holland, being centre for the European plaice industry.
A fleet of 7 trawlers from Hvide Sande was the first Danish vessels catching MSC-labeled North Sea Plaice already in 2010. Since that MSC have strengthened the market position for the plaice industry, but the fishermen does not any longer achieve a price mark-up covering the additional costs related to the MSC-fishery.
As a response to the price development a Danish twin-rig trawler, RI 427 ”Mette Helene” commisioned in 2009, landed a catch of North Sea Plaice in Urk on Friday 16th July without the MSC-label. If necessary the plaice will be sold without MSC to bring attention on prices.
The reality is consumers and supermarkets demanding sustainable fishery, and seafood recognized by high quality as well. Last year we had reasonable prices for the MSC catch, but we are not any longer getting a premium price for the sustainable fish landed, after the industry put pressure on prices during this spring, even the prices slightly recovered in general the last weeks says mr. Jens Bollerup as chairman for the Danish North Sea MSC ApS, where the 7 trawlers from Hvide Sande are united.
The sustainable fishery operated by the 7 trawlers, from Hvide Sande on the Danish North Sea coast, is operating under high standards in cooperation with the Dutch Ekofish Group based in Urk. The fishery is recognized by using twin rig trawls, by 120 mm having a 30% larger mesh size than legally demanded by EU. Simply for only catching the bigger high valuable fish and reducing discard of fish, which basicly should stay at sea for the fish stocks recovery. And we are focusing on quality by short hauls, and a few days fishing trips being shortened. We are also avoiding sensitive areas on the seabed by having some disclosed fishing areas. All these intiatives are leading to more time spent at sea, and by this leading to increased fuel costs. But we are not payed for this Jens Bollerup says.
We are focusing on modern and sustainable fishing methods, so several of the vessels had invested in camera surveillance for our documentation. Of course this is also addtional costs, as well as the costs for the MSC-surveys and holding the MSC-certificate. The entire quality management is also added costs by sea packing, registration and documentation for the chain of custody, registration of all bycatch and the limited discards etc. leading to extended work on board. Thereby some of the vessels are using extra crew, being another significant cost.
However we will continue fishing according to the MSC norms for sustainable fishery. But we will high light for the processing industry and retailers that a reasonable price mark-up is needed. By the end of the day we have a lack of at least 0,50 Euro compared to the actual pricelevel, being just above 1 Euro pr. kg. for the North Sea Plaice, as we have seen during the spring, and first part of this summer. The price issue is closely related to the consumers, the super markets and the fishing industry. As Fishermen we have tried to follow the market demand for sustainability and quality, but obviously we are aiming for higher prices covering our added costs by MSC.
The skippers had also invested significant amounts in quotas and fuel efficient vessels, having all equipment for modern fishery focusing on quality and sustainability. We are indeed working for sustaianble fishery to benefit for the comming generations as well. So landing plaice without MSC-label – even the fish is caught by MSC-principles – is purely in protest says Jens Bollerup.
We do hope this will be adressed to the industry and supermarkets as a clear signal for increased prices, being strongly needed. Of course we do also hope that other parts of the the fishing fleet is supporting this intiative, to benefit for the long term sustainable fishery.
