Pelagic fishing vessel the Finnur I Fridi. (Photo: Hugin blog)

In first, MSC certifies Faroese herring fishery

FAROE ISLANDS
Monday, March 08, 2010, 12:50 (GMT + 9)

The Faroese Atlanto-Scandian (Norwegian Spring Spawning) herring fishery - Faroese Pelagic Organization (FPO)- has been found to meet the Marine Stewardship Council (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.

The fishery comprises five large and technologically advanced vessels - four Refrigerated Seawater-vessels (RSW) and one processing vessel.  The RSW-vessels are well equipped to quickly cool the fish to ensure best quality when it is delivered to the factories.

The processing vessel M/S Nordborg is one of the largest and most modern fishing vessels in the North Atlantic. Onboard the vessel, herring can be processed immediately into different products and frozen. The whole catch is used, with fish-meal and fish-oil produced from the waste.

Jógvan Jespersen from Felagið Nótaskip - the Faroese Pelagic Organisation - said:

"We are delighted to have completed the process of certification and to have done so within nine months of entering assessment.  It is critical to us that fish stocks remain sustainable into the future. The market for certified sustainable herring is strong and growing, and we look forward to being able to sell our certified catch."

Camiel Derichs, MSC manager for Northern Europe said:

"This certification, obtained after a robust and very well managed, and therefore smooth and speedy, assessment by Det Norske Veritas, confirms that these fisheries are managed with foresight and good stewardship for future generations. [...] I am confident that buyers across the globe will be interested in certified herring from the Faroes, and that Faeroese fisheries will continue to be a source of inspiration for other fisheries in the North Atlantic."

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