Any langoustine – also known as Dublin Bay prawns, Nephrops or scampi – caught in Loch Torridon after 11th January 2011 may not be described as ‘MSC certified.’ The reason is the Independent certifier, Moody Marine, has suspended the MSC certificate because there was increased fishing pressure in the area caused by creel-fishing boats being attracted to the fishery.
The fishery has many boats remained unsigned up to the voluntary Management Plan Code of Conduct for the fishery. To date, the fishery client has not been able, either by themselves or through working with relevant management bodies, to establish management authority over the fishery that would prevent a further fall in local langoustine abundance.
Certifier Moody Marine said while issuing the suspension that the main problem to the sustainable management of this fishery is the inability to control the level of fishing effort within the closed area. The certifier said that almost all the areas are open to allcomers and over half the fleet not having signed up to the Management Plan Code of Conduct, it is not possible to respond to the need to reduce fishing effort to maintain or re-build stock levels.
Claire Pescod, UK Fisheries Outreach Manager for the MSC said that this is an unfortunate situation and, while the MSC acknowledges the efforts the TNMG has made, the long term sustainability of the stock must come first. The recertification and annual surveillance elements of the MSC programme are there to identify important changes in fisheries and in this instance identified the risk to the stock due to increased fishing pressure and management control issues.
