The re-certification came following independent assessment to the MSC standard for sustainable, well-managed fisheries. According to the information Patagonian fishery of Argentina was first certified with prestigious MSC label in 2006. The main area of this fishery is on the Argentine Continental Shelf in waters approximately 60-120 meters deep, between the northern boundary with Uruguay and Tierra del Fuego in the south. The fishing method is benthic otter trawl net.
In its first fievr year certification period the fishery has landed between 45,000 and 58,000 metric tons of whole scallops per year in its first five-year certification period. Processing, packing and storage of the harvested scallops is done onboard. The main markets of this fishery product are the United States, France and Canada.
Kerry Coughlin, regional director for MSC Americas, said that the Patagonian scallop fishery was the first Argentine fishery and the first scallop fishery in the world to achieve MSC certification. He added that this recertification stressed the importance of sustainable and well managed fishery.
