About the French saithe fishery
Five EURONOR fishing vessels target saithe in the North Sea, off Western Scotland, and in the Norwegian Sea. The fleet produces 16,000 metric tones of saithe annually. With fishing rights representing over 90% of the French quota for this species, it is the largest saithe fishing company in France and one of the largest in Europe. The fleet comprises three freezer vessels which process their catch into fillets at sea and two wet fish vessels which land fresh fish and sell them through auction.
What EURONOR says
Xavier Leduc, CEO of EURONOR, said: “Our experience over the past 13 months has been extremely positive and we are proud to be the first French fishery to achieve MSC certification. In the highly competitive markets in which we operate, the MSC ecolabel is a seal of approval for sustainable fishing and it also opens doors to new markets. Over the past months we have witnessed some notable developments in the fresh fish market and a growing interest from fish wholesalers. Many of them have already taken the necessary steps to get MSC Chain of Custody to ensure the traceability of our MSC-certified fish.”
Bruno Leduc, Deputy CEO of EURONOR, commented: “The MSC assessment process, which we entered voluntarily, has enabled us to make some improvements to our management systems to protect the environment, preserve fish stocks and secure the long-term future of our fishery. This is a thorough assessment process which requires an active commitment from the fishery. Its scientific robustness and transparency has enabled us to approach the assessment with peace of mind. We have been very impressed with the expertise and professionalism of the expert scientific team, convened by MEP, our certifier.”
What the MSC says
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC Regional Director, said: “On behalf of the MSC, I would like to congratulate EURONOR for becoming the first certified French fishery. As of today, saithe from the EURONOR fleet will be eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel. From an environmental and culinary perspective, saithe is a species that deserves to be better known by the general public, I am confident that the MSC certification will help add value to this fishery.”
Edouard Le Bart, MSC Manager for France, added: “This first certification is a milestone for the French market. I know that it will be welcomed by the seafood industry – many have already obtained chain of custody for the species, and certified saithe from the EURONOR fleet will soon be available in the French market. I would like to congratulate EURONOR for achieving MSC certification and I hope that the four French fisheries, currently undergoing full assessment, will follow in their footsteps.”
