It is said that the assessment certification of the Stornoway Western Isles Langoustine Fishery took 12 months as the process was rigorous and independent. Young’s Seafood has supported and financially sponsored this assessment. This is the first time that a European seafood processor has sponsored an individual fishery in the MSC process.
Yvonne Adam, marketing director of Young’s Seafood, opined that the Stornoway fleet has worked tirelessly with us to achieve this highly important certification. Langoustine is already the UK’s most valuable fishery catch and key fisheries like Stornoway need to demonstrate their sustainability not just because it is the right thing to do but in order to properly compete in today’s market, explained Adam.
The certification event was celebrated this week (14 April) in Stornoway when Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP, congratulated Young’s and local skippers on their joint achievement. Richard Lochhead states that he was delighted that the Stornoway Western Isles Langoustine Fishery has achieved this gold standard of sustainability. He added that this is a timely boost for our Western Isles fishing communities in these difficult economic times and it gives everyone concrete proof that when they are choosing Stornoway langoustines, they are buying a top-quality product from the most sustainable source possible.
Iain Murray, skipper of the Comrade, who together with Murdo Macdonald of the Sharon Rose, has played a key role in the MSC certification process. He told that achieving MSC certification has therefore been close to his heart and he was delighted that the efforts of both the fishermen and Young’s have been rewarded. Stornoway langoustines are the best in the world and this accolade gives us another feather in its cap.
