It has been a long process of adjusting management and fishing practices, followed by an assessment by an independent certification body – leading to Seine Bay scallops achieving the MSC stamp of approval and the blue tick logo.
The process required compliance with a set of 25 criteria and 74 regional sub-criteria during the 11-month assessement conducted by Global Trust, culminating in certification held by the Normandy Fisheries Committee, the Normandy Fishermen’s Association and FROM Nord.
The certification process has involved a number of organisations, including Normandie Fraicheur Mer, Ifremer, the Normandy Federation of Fish Traders and Région Normandie.
Scallops are a key fishery for the Normandy region, and the Seine Bay waters have been subject to several decades of management initiatives and responsible fishing practices initiated by the fishing sector. This MSC certification is seen as recognition of the extensive work done to ensure the responsible exploitation of a highly valuable resource.
