The North Sea herring fishery operated by vessels belonging to the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group and the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (England, France, Germany, Lithuania and the Netherlands) has been re-certified by the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) flagship ecolabel scheme.
The Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA) and Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG) North Sea herring fisheries have held the MSC standard since 2006 and 2008 respectively, and this is the third time they have been re-certified under its programme of five-yearly assessments. The MSC standard provides independent confirmation that the fishery is sustainable and well-managed.
‘This recertification is great news for the fishery and highlights the determination of our herring fishermen to ensure a sustainable future,’ said SPSG secretary Ian Gatt.
‘Health experts recommend we should eat two portions of fish every week, one of which should be an oil-rich fish, which is why we should all be including fish such as herring or mackerel in our weekly shop.’
‘Our North Sea herring fishery was the first large European fishery of its type to be certified under the MSC label,’ commented Gerard van Balsfoort of the PFA.
‘This third certification of the iconic North Sea herring fishery shows how collaboration among scientists – including our own researchers – management authorities and the fishing industry can lead to successful and long term sustainable harvesting.’
Acoura Marine undertook the assessment on behalf of the PFA and SPSG client group.
