First 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, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to MSC.
The independent assessment team confirmed that the fishery met the three MSC principles for sustainability

• the target herring stock is abundant and able to sustain fishing effort
• the fishery was well-managed, with clear and defined objectives

• the environmental impact of the fishery on the marine habitat and ecosystem is minimised: there is no physical contact between the seabed and the purse seines and pelagic trawls operated by the FPO-vessels.

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.'
What the MSC says

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.  For the MSC it is a great honour to add this fishery, from a nation with a strong tradition of fishing, to the growing group of MSC certified fisheries. I am confident that buyers across the globe will be interested in certified herring from the Faroes, and that Faroese fisheries will continue to be a source of inspiration for other fisheries in the North Atlantic.