The Argentine hoki trawl net fishery has been awarded the prestigious MSC certificate.
The Argentine hoki fishery has successfully completed independent assessment to the MSC standard for sustainable, well-managed fisheries. The fishery was certified the prestigious MSC label. The fishery operates in the Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and adjacent waters from 39° to 56° South Latitude. Now the products
Of this fishery are eligible to bear the blue MSC ecolabel. This is the third fishery in Argentina to become MSC certified.
The fishery has 11 vessels covered under this certificate and last year the annual catch for the fishery was 70,000 metric tonnes. The Ministry of Agriculture is overseeing the management of this fishery where fishing takes place throughout the year. The main products from the fishery are headed and gutted, frozen fillets, fish blocks, and surimi. The primary markets are Japan, France, Germany, China and Eastern Europe.
Daniel Rivera, president of Pespasa/Pesantar, on behalf of the client group, said that this certification will open new avenues for other Argentine fishery based on best practices applied by government authorities which seriously considers biological and sustainable parameters to establish annually the Total Allowable Catch.
Kerry Coughlin, regional director for MSC Americas, said that hoki is a very important species in the global whitefish market and it’s wonderful to see this Argentine fishery successfully complete assessment against the MSC standard and become part of a certified sustainable supply.
