Barents Sea Greenland halibut and opilio crab fisheries have been awarded MSC certification as sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
These catches can be sold to markets in Europe, US and Russia, with retailers, brands and restaurants able to use the recognised blue MSC label.
‘In 2016 we committed to achieving MSC certification for all of the fisheries that are part of the North West Fishing Consortium. These latest certifications complete this commitment and is a proud moment for our organisation. Sustainable and responsible seafood production is an essential part of our business model. I’d like to thank all those who have supported us in this achievement,’ said Sergey Nesvetov, Executive Director of North West Fishing Consortium.
These certifications were awarded by independent certifier Lloyd’s Register following detailed assessments and stakeholder consultation. They bring the total number of MSC certified fisheries in Russia to 42 of which 18 are in the Russian Barents Sea.
‘Congratulations to these fisheries on achieving certification to the MSC’s globally recognised standards for sustainable fishing,’ said MSC programme development director Camiel Derichs.
‘We hope that during the coming years these fisheries will continue to work with scientists and NGOs to deliver the improvements required as conditions of their ongoing certification. These include improvements to harvest strategies and data collection which will contribute to the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems.’
The certified snow crab fishery accounts for 70% of the 9840 tonne quota for commercial snow crab in Russia’s exclusive economic zone. This snow crab fishery and the already-certified Russian red king crab fishery are part of the Association of Crab Catchers of North with twelve crab vessels each catching between five and ten tonnes of snow crab per day, usually from March to June, and using traps partly made from biodegradable material.
The certified Greenland halibut fishery is pursued by the North-West Fishing Company-Murmansk and North Fisheries, operating three vessels which fish September-November. In 2019 these vessels caught 4700 tonnes of Greenland halibut.
This is a fishery that spans the Norwegian and Russian Economic Zones and the Fishery Protection Zone around Svalbard. It is a joint Norwegian-Russian stock, managed by the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission.
The members of the Consortium have collaborated with scientists at the Polar Institute of Fishing and Oceanography (PINRO) and WWF-Russia to improve the fishing gear used by trawlers in the Barents Sea, reducing their impact on seabed habitats. They have also rolled out a detailed by-catch recording system across the trawl fleet.
The companies in the Consortium provide a full set of processing operations including harvesting and processing at sea and on shore factories, transportation, repair and supply of vessels, and the distribution and sales of products in domestic and international markets.
