North Yorkshire scampi fisheries in the southern North Sea have entered the full assessment process against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard. If successful it will allow the MSC eco-label to be displayed on Whitby scampi, identifying the product as coming from a sustainable and well-managed fishery. Scampi, whose scientific name is Nephrops norvegicus, is also known as langoustine and Dublin Bay prawn.
The fisheries under assessment will be fished by the Whitby based vessels the Success 3, and the Kristanjo as well as other local vessels fishing out of Whitby and North Shields such as the Prevail, Renown and Grenaa Star as well as others nominated by Whitby Seafoods Limited. The southern North Sea scampi fisheries are seasonal. From May to September, the boats fish at Botney Gut (Silver Pit area) a hundred miles off the Whitby coast. From October to March they fish the Farne Deeps – the deep water area around the Farne Isles, off the coast of Northumbria.
The fishery is being sponsored for the assessment by Whitby Seafoods – who will be the main recipient of landings – with additional funding provided by the Yorkshire and Humber Seafood Group. Edward Whittle, Supply Chain Director of Whitby Seafoods says, “We believe that these important scampi fisheries are already fished in a well managed and sustainable way, the fishing vessels concerned work to a very high standard. The MSC certification will give our customers confidence that our belief is justified”.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC says, “I am delighted to see the Southern North Sea nephrops fisheries enter full assessment. Nephrops are a hugely valuable species and four other nephrops fisheries have entered assessment in the past year. It is great to see seafood processors like Whitby Seafoods working with organisations like the Yorkshire and Humberside Seafood Group to take such an active role in promoting seafood sustainability.”
The assessment will be carried out by independent certifier Moody Marine Ltd and is expected to take 12 months.
