The new species enlisted under MSC certification are plaice (Netherlands/Denmark), sardines (UK, France), haddock (UK), icefish (South Georgia) and, from Canada, sockeye salmon, sablefish, haddock and yellowtail flounder. The press release of MSC reveals that 8 Danish vessels have joined the 5 Dutch vessels already certified for the Ekofish North Sea plaice twinrig fishery.
In the meantime 2 sardine fisheries have been certified in UK and France, Cornwall’s traditional in-shore sardine fishery and the South Brittany sardine purse seine fishery.
After performing well in the Risk-Based framework assessment, Cornish sardines went on to pass the regular MSC assessment.
Certified sustainable haddock could be a regular feature in fish and chip shops across the UK after the Scottish haddock fishery was certified as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. The South Georgia icefish fishery scored particularly highly on its maintenance of the ecosystem with nets designed to avoid contact with the ocean floor and extensive measures in place to limit bycatch of seabirds.
Four certifications bring sockeye salmon, sablefish, haddock and yellowtail flounder to the market in Canada. From Fraser River comes sockeye salmon, joining 3 other BC sockeye salmon fisheries previously certified. This fishery recently re-opened to commercial fishing, with reports of record runs.
