Red crabbers are now in the full assessment phase for obtaining Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery. It is really a big achievement for red crabbers after four years of strong effort to gain the certificate. Jon Williams, President, the New England Red Crab Harvesters Association, said that they are the only fishery on the East Coast to get this far.
It is true that the MSC provides independent certification for fisheries that are deemed sustainable and well managed under rigorous international standards. Several West Coast and Alaska fisheries are among the 26 fisheries worldwide that have earned MSC certification to date such as US North Pacific halibut, US North Pacific sablefish, Alaska salmon, and Alaska pollock to name a few. All now carry the MSC eco-label in the marketplace.
The New England Red Crab Harvesters Association has successfully completed pre-assessment requirements for certification this past December. Now after the review it will have full MSC certification. Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF) has helped finance half of the assessment process. According to SSF it makes grant available to reduce the financial hurdles confronting fishermen who want to adopt sustainable practices and “potentially benefit from certification under MSC standards.”
The New England Fishery Management Council developed a management plan for the fishery, which was implemented in 2002. According to the Council the limited-access fishery operates under an annual target total allowable catch (TAC) of 5.928 million pounds – or 2,688 metric tons (mt). Other reason for seeking MSC certification is said to help the industry break into new markets, including those demanding “sustainable” and “green” seafood products. Williams told that the certification will help to ensure the economic viability of the fleet.
