MSC Announces 7000th Ecolabelled Product

J Sainsbury peeled, frozen prawns recently became the 7000th MSC ecolabelled product worldwide. Growth in MSC ecolabelled products has increased dramatically over the past four years doubling, on average, every 12 - 15 months.

According to MSC, consumer interest in their branding has rocketed over the past two years with recent figures showing a 60% increase in recognition of the MSC ecolabel in the UK. The organization reports that nearly one in five people now recognize the MSC ecolabel..

source: MSC press release

MSC Certifies Canadian Sablefish Fishery

The Canadian sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) fishery operating within the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of British Columbia (B.C.) has earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Products from this sablefish fishery will now be eligible to bear the blue MSC ecolabel. Sablefish is also marketed as black cod.

MSC Traceability Program Forensic Techniques

Independent DNA tests on 240 random samples have shown that MSC certified fish continues to perform well in traceability tests. All of the samples showed that they came from the fish labelled on the pack and none of the products was mislabelled. These early results establish DNA analysis as a valuable tool in combating the fraudulent use of ecolabels. As a result, the MSC plans to expand the testing of species later this year.

The first DNA tests were developed for three species: Alaska salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.), Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and South Georgia toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides).  Scientists took reference samples of these three species from MSC certified fisheries and analysed their DNA profiles.  The team took samples from MSC-labelled products sold in four key markets (the USA, the UK, Germany and Japan) and compared their DNA profiles with those of the reference samples.  All were found to be the species declared on the pack.

The next phase of the DNA testing program will assess more products containing Alaska salmon, Alaska pollock and South Georgia toothfish, and develop tests for a further four fish species: Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), hake (Merluccius paradoxus and M. capensis), hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae)and herring (Clupea harengus).

source: MSC

MSC Certifies PFA Atlanto Scandian Herring

The Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA) Atlanto Scandian herring fishery has secured certification against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) environmental standard for sustainable and well managed fisheries.

The MSC assessment took just 8 months. The Atlanto Scandian herring fishery is PFA's third fishery to achieve MSC certification. Its North Sea herring and North East Atlantic mackerel fisheries were certified in 2006 and in 2009.

Around 41,000 metric tonnes of Atlanto Scandian herring caught annually will now be eligible to display the blue MSC ecolabel.

For more information, please visit www.msc.org

WFOA Launches Albacore Tuna Information Website

The Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) has launched a new Web site dedicated to U.S. troll-caught albacore. WFOA created the site, www.pacificalbacore.com, along with other marketing efforts, will increase the domestic market for local tuna.

In March of 2010, the fishery earned the Marine Stewardship Council blue label certification as a sustainable fishery.

"Sustainable fish and local food are hot topics rights now," said WFOA Director Wayne Heikkila. "People are visiting their local markets looking for sustainably caught fish.....We want to encourage local people to try this delicious, heart-healthy fish."

The site offers information on the history of the Pacific Northwest fishery, nutrition, cooking tips, recipes, news and how and where to buy albacore.

Aker BioMarine Krill Fishery Gains MSC Certification

The Aker BioMarine krill (Euphausia superba) fishery has been awarded Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification following a rigorous, independent assessment against the MSC standard for sustainable and well managed fisheries.

Products from this Antarctic based fishery are now eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel, identifying their origin from a sustainable source. Only products that originate from the Aker BioMarine fishery are eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.

The Aker BioMarine krill fishery operates in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. The management of all fishing activity in the Antarctic is overseen by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) established in 1982 to protect and manage the extensive marine resources of Antarctica.

At current levels, fishing pressure on krill is very low – less than one per cent of the most recent estimated biomass (estimated by CCAMLR to be 37 million tonnes).  Aker BioMarine catches between 40,000 and 50,000 tonnes annually, from a total allowable catch of approximately 3.5 million tonnes.

source: MSC press release

MSC Certifies Eastern Canada Offshore Lobster

The Eastern Canada offshore lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery operating within the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the eastern seaboard of Canada has earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification having been independently assessed and found to be sustainable and well-managed.  Products from the Eastern Canada offshore lobster fishery will now be eligible to bear the blue MSC ecolabel.

source: MSC

Norwegian Cod and Haddock Fisheries Certified by MSC

Norway’s offshore Northeast Arctic (NEA) cod and haddock fisheries have been certified as sustainable under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) environmental standard for sustainable and well managed fisheries. After successfully completing its assessment, MSC-certification for these fisheries was awarded at the European Seafood Expo in Brussels.

Around 125,000 metric tonnes of Norwegian cod and 90,000 metric tonnes of Norwegian haddock will now be eligible to display the blue MSC ecolabel. In addition to its domestic sales, the fish has a global market with fresh and frozen fish being sold in Germany, France and the UK.

source: MSC press release

South African Hake Trawl Achieves Re-certification

Hake from the South African trawl fishery will continue to carry the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label after successfully completing its five year re-assessment against the MSC standard.

The trawl fishery comprises the inshore sector, which targets predominantly shallow water hake (Merluccius capensis) on South Africa’s South Coast, and the offshore sector, which targets mostly deep water hake (M. paradoxus), on fishing grounds extending from the Namibian border southwards along the Alguhas fringe.

The South African hake-directed trawl fishery developed in the early 1900’s and peaked in the early 1970’s. A conservative management strategy since the early 1980’s has led to a gradual recovery in catch rates. Stock rebuilding efforts are ongoing.

Scottish Atlanto Scandian Herring Fishery Gains MSC certification

The Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group’s (SPSG) Atlanto-Scandian herring fishery has been certified as a sustainable and well-managed fishery under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.  Herring taken from this fishery are now eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.

SPSG pelagic trawlers, fitted with the latest refrigerated seawater tank systems, catch Atlanto-Scandian herring over a large area of the northeast Atlantic.  The UK has a quota of 20,600 tonnes for 2010, which is around 1.4% of the Total Allowable Catch for the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock. Much of this is taken in February, the main fishing season, with the remainder caught in the autumn.

Carrying an MSC ecolabel is an important marketing tool and allows SPSG members to compete on a level playing field with other countries’ products, particularly Norway and Denmark. Key markets for Atlanto-Scandian herring are Russia, Ukraine and China.

source: MSC press release

Faroese Herring Fishery Awarded MSC Certification

The Faroese Atlanto-Scandian (Norwegian Spring Spawning) herring fishery - Faroese Pelagic Organization- has attained the MSC environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.

The independent assessment team confirmed that the target herring stock is abundant and able to sustain fishing effort; that there were low by-catch and discard rates in the fishery; and that the fishery was well-managed, with clear and defined objectives.  They also concluded that the environmental impact of the fishery on the marine habitat and ecosystem is minimal as there is no physical contact between the seabed and the purse seines and pelagic trawls operated by the FPO-vessels.

The fishery follows one of the largest herring stocks in the world as it migrates from its spawning grounds along the Norwegian continental shelf to its summer feeding grounds in the Faroese, Icelandic and international areas.

source: MSC press release

Dutch Government Offers Funds for Fishery Certification

The Dutch parliament voted recently to amend the government’s 2010 budget to make an additional 500,000 euros available for fishery assessment and certification. The decision means that The Netherlands have now allocated a total of €1.5m towards fishery certification.

source: MSC press release