According to the press briefing the Osprey Trawlers North Sea Twin-rigged plaice fishery become the second North Sea plaice fishery to achieve MSC certification for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Now the fishery vessel can use the blue MSC ecolabel to their catches.
The fishery targets plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) using twin-rigged demersal trawl in the north east Atlantic. Its vessels catch approximately 2,000 Metric Tonnes annually – 3% of EU North Sea quota. The North Sea plaice stock is assessed as being within safe biological limits and the large mesh size used means that discards levels are low.
The fishery has changed to twin rigs to reduce the fuel used and improved condition of the landed fish. The nets have a number of features designed to reduce the discarding of unwanted by-catch and to reduce the impact on the sea floor. To protect the sea bed Osprey Group have closed a number of areas. These areas correspond with those previously closed by Ekofish Group.
Cees de Boer says on behalf of the fishery said that Osprey Group has decided 2 years ago to undertake the step towards acknowledged sustainable fishing. Nathalie Steins, Benelux Country Manager for the MSC adds that it is good to know that the Osprey Group gaining MSC certification. The supply of certified sustainably caught plaice has grown significantly which will be visible in the market place.”
