If successful, nine vessels from the Scapêche fleet as well as a vessel from the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo will be awarded MSC certification and saithe from both these fisheries will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel. In 2008, 4,000 tonnes of saithe were caught by the two fishing companies. This species from the North-East Atlantic Ocean is widely distributed among fishmongers.
Julien Lamothe, Secretary-General of the National Association of Producers’ Organisations (ANOP) [4] which is leading the certification project, said: “Scapêche and the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo have joined forces with the view to achieving MSC certification in order to earn recognition for their sustainable fishing practices and meet market demands. These two fishing companies would like to offer their clients the option to buy seafood from a certified well-managed and sustainable source with the MSC stamp of approval.” In addition, Patrick Soisson, CEO of the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo added: “We plan to apply for MSC certification for other species such as cod and haddock.”
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC Regional Director – Europe, commented: “Digemer mad (“welcome” in Breton) to both these fisheries. Saithe is a traditional target species from the region. I would like to take the opportunity to invite stakeholders to come forward and get involved in the certification process. If the outcome is positive, this fishery will be able to benefit from the growing European demand for saithe from well-managed and sustainable fisheries. I would like to extend my best wishes to Scapêche and Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo for this joint certification process.”
Edouard Le Bart, Commercial Manager for the MSC in France added: “This is the third French fishery to enter full assessment. This move confirms a growing interest from the French fishing industry in sustainable seafood. The MSC programme is gaining momentum in France. This wouldn’t be possible without the entry of French fisheries in the MSC programme. I hope that Scapêche and the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo will provide a wealth of insights. If the outcome is positive, this will help increase the number of MSC-labelled products available to French consumers.”
The assessment will be carried out by an independent certifier, MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd which will be assisted by an independent scientific team.
