With ambitions to be the world’s leading supplier of sustainable mussels and oysters

VMI East Jutland blue shell mussel dredge fishery entered full assessment in the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) certification program for sustainable and well-managed fisheries, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to MSC.

The fishery, which operates on the East Jutland coast off Denmark, will be assessed by an independent certifier against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. If successful, products from this fishery will be eligible to bear the blue MSC ecolabel.
About the fishery

The Vilsund Musilinge Industri A/S East Jutland blue shell mussel (Mytilus edulis) dredge fishery operates in FAO Area 27 Atlantic, Northeast, subdivision ICAS SubArea 111a. The fishery is managed within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Danish Commission of Commercial Fisheries with members from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries/ Fisheries directorate and local councils manage the fishery at a national level.
Ambitions to be the world's leading supplier of sustainable mussels and oysters

"The fishery on the East Coast of Jutland is the fourth Vilsund Blue fishery to enter MSC assessment. To the first mussel fishery to achieve MSC certification in the world (Danish Limfjord mussels), and the two fisheries under assessment (Limfjord rope grown mussel and Limfjords oysters), we are delighted to add the East Coast mussel fishery. This is all in line with the strategy of the Vilsund Blue group to be the world's leading supplier of sustainable mussels and oysters," says managing director Søren Mattesen of the Vilsund Blue Group.
Safeguarding  future supplies

"Denmark is one of the most important producers of processed mussels in Europe and we are very pleased to see yet another blue mussel dredge fishery following suit and entering into MSC fisheries assessment. MSC certified mussel fisheries are already demonstrating progress, through better management plans, towards safeguarding future supplies, and further research to improve understanding of the risk posed to habitat types is underway," says MSC Baltic manager Minna Epps.
About the certifier

The client group contracted with Moody Marine Ltd. to conduct the independent, third-party assessment, which is expected to take approximately 12 to 16 months.  A team of scientific experts will be convened to evaluate the fishery based on the three Principles of the MSC standard:  the sustainability of the fish stock, its impact on the environment and the management system in place. Anyone who would like to bring information about the fishery to the attention of the certifier can be involved as a stakeholder in the assessment process. If you would like to be involved, please contact Jim Andrews at j.andrews@moodyint.com