About the Dutch Blue Shell Mussel fishery and culture
The Dutch Blue Shell Mussel fishery and culture is located in the Dutch coastal region of the Waddenzee and Zeeland delta and comprises 65 fishing vessels and 220 ha of suspended seed mussel collecting systems. Mussel seed fished from wild mussel beds or collected from off-bottom seed mussel catching installations are grown on bottom cultivation lots. The total landings in 2008/2009 were 36.8 million kilograms. The mussels are mainly sold to the Belgian, Dutch, French and German markets.
What the Dutch Producers’ Organisation Mussel Culture says
Mr Hans van Geesbergen, says on behalf of the Dutch Producers’ Organisation Mussel Culture : “The Dutch mussel fishery has been working towards balancing fisheries and nature since the late 1990s. We have seen many changes to our fisheries management system, working with the environmental NGOs and the governments. Although this was not always easy for the industry, we have adapted and are confident that our joint efforts will be rewarded by a successful assessment to the MSC standard.”
What the MSC says
Nathalie Steins, Manager Netherlands, says: “I am pleased to welcome this fishery in the programme. If successful, this blue shell mussel fishery will enable us to meet a growing demand for MSC certified shellfish in the northern European market. This is the first fishery to come forward following the allocation of fisheries certification grants by the Dutch government. I look forward to seeing more Dutch fisheries entering the programme in future. I wish the PO Mussel Culture all the best during their assessment.”
The certifyer
The assessment will be carried out by independent certifier SGS Nederland B.V.
