The Dutch Oyster Association has started its assessment against the internationally recognised MSC standard for sustainable fishing. If successful, their two fisheries will be able to display the MSC ecolabel on their products.
The two species targeted, Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis) and Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) will be assessed at the same time. Both fisheries rely on enhancement of oyster stocks – a Catch and Grow (CAG) system.
About the fishery
The oyster fisheries are located in the Dutch North Sea coastal region of the Eastern Scheldt (Oosterschelde) and Lake Grevelingen (Grevelingenmeer) . There are about 30 companies and individuals active in these fisheries that together control nearly the whole supply of Dutch oysters. The Native and Pacific Oysters are caught by means of a ‘kor’, a special net that scrapes the oysters from the bed. The Native Oyster stock is very vulnerable. It is scarcer than the Pacific Oyster because it reproduces with more difficulty and is more sensitive to the disease Bonamiasis. The members of the Dutch Oyster Association catch about 700,000 items of Native Oysters and about 35 million items of Pacific Oysters annually. There is no TAC as this is an enhanced fishery. The oysters are mainly sold on the Belgian, German, French and Italian market.
“With confidence going into full assessment”
Jaap de Rooij, secretary of the Dutch Oyster Association said: “We are convinced that oysters in the Netherlands are harvested in a sustainable way. Certification to the MSC standard will be the confirmation of this. For more than 100 years oysters have been cultivated in these exact locations. The oyster sector is entering into full assessment with confidence that we will receive the desired MSC certificate.
Meeting a growing demand for MSC certified shell fish
Nathalie Steins, MSC Manager Benelux, says: “I am pleased that the Dutch Oyster Association has chosen to measure its sustainability against the MSC standard and strive to earn MSC certification. If successful, their oyster fisheries will enable us to meet a growing demand for MSC certified shell fish in the northern European market. I wish them all the best during their assessment.”
