There’s a chequered history behind the certification of Iceland’s fishery for monkfish. The fishery’s initial 2018 certification expired in 2024. This has now been regained.
The certification lapsed due to a number of factors that required to be addressed, and these concerns were not concluded within the required time-frame. As a result certification lapsed.
Icelandic Sustainable Fisheries (ISF) provided support in regaining MSC certification, making this the world’s only certified fishery for monkfish.
‘The fact that the Icelandic fishery for monkfish is the only one to be certified clearly demonstrates progress,’ said Kristinn Hjálmarsson at ISF.
‘Although monkfish is one of the smaller quota fisheries in Iceland, we place a strong emphasis on validation of responsible use of the resource. Sustainability is not about individual species, but more about an overall approach – responsible fisheries and the strong collaboration that has developed in Icelandic fisheries.’
Fishing for monkfish in Icelandic waters (ICES area 5a) peaked in 2009, declined and the fishing activity level is now steady. Monkfish are caught in mixed trawl fisheries and in static nets in depths of between 50 and 250 metres.
The MSC certification process took into account aspects of the fishery that had required improvement, such as a greater caution in setting a catch rule and more stringent oversight of by-catch species and minimising risk to ndangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species.
‘The MSC is pleased to see Icelandic monkfish recertified. This fishery is unique as the only MSC-certified fishery for monkfish,’ said MSC’s Erin Priddle.
‘ISF’s initiative in taking this forward and making sustainablility a key factor is exemplary and we’re happy to have them as a longstanding partner.’
