German fishery catching cod from the eastern Baltic Sea applies for MSC ecolabel for sustainable fishing. The fishery will now undergo an independent assessment to show if they meet the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. Food Certification International (FCI) will lead the assessment process which is estimated to take around 14 months. If successful, the fishery will be eligible to show the blue MSC ecolabel on its cod catch from the eastern Baltic Sea.
Report says that the “Küstenfischer Nord eG“ is the fifth German fishery to enter the MSC programme, with one already certified and four currently in assessment. Ten vessels of “Küstenfischer Nord eG“ operating with pelagic and bottom trawls have applied for MSC assessment. For 2010, their total annual catches quota amounts to 1,200 tonnes of cod (Gadus morhua).
Jörn Paustian, Project Manager at Küstenfischer Nord eG, opined that they are rising to the challenge of MSC certification. He said that they are using the fishing resource in a responsible manner and are ready to confirm this through an independent auditor. Marnie Bammert, Country Manager at MSC, said that the MSC standard is a credible, robust, science based programme. The assessment process is transparent and is open to any stakeholder with an interest in this fishery.
