UK Company First To Promote New Icelandic Eco Label

Cumbrian Seafoods Ltd, the UK's leading independent supplier of seafood, has become the first in the country to present the new Icelandic responsible fisheries label to British consumers, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Cumbrian Seafoods.

The new Responsible Fisheries Management Certification has been set up to verify that Iceland's seafood products are drawn from responsibly managed fisheries.

Iceland's on-going commitment to "responsible fisheries management", over a timeframe spanning many years, has now been confirmed by the independent certification body, Global Trust, to be of a world standard.

And now this new labelling will be displayed on selected products provided by Cumbrian Seafoods to Asda stores across the UK, highlighting that the fish has come from responsibly managed fisheries.

The certification was granted to Iceland in December by the Global Trust in what is seen as a "historic milestone," viewed by the Icelandic authorities as confirming that the country is "living up to the highest standards adopted by international organisations."

Peter Vassallo, owner of County Durham-based Cumbrian Seafoods said "we are very supportive of this initiative, which provides independent verification of, what I have always understood to be the case, Iceland practicing a well established system of responsible fisheries management."

"The demand to reassure consumers that fish comes from renewable resources has grown in recent years and the introduction of Iceland's own eco label ensures that their seafood products will now draw full benefit from their sound management of the prolific fisheries round their coastlines," he said.

The Global Trust used its team of experts to assess the management systems, fishing methods and practices of Iceland's cod fishery to ensure that it measured up to the required level of compliance before giving the scheme the green light.