The Atlantic Halibut Council''s Canadian Atlantic halibut fishery has become the first of its kind to receive Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
The Atlantic Halibut Council represents processors and harvesters in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, eastern Canada.
All halibut caught by Canadian harvesters using demersal long lines, demersal trawls and gill nets in Northwest Atlantic Fishing Organisation (NAFO) fishing zones 3NOPs, 4VWX and 5Zc in Atlantic Ocean waters, are included in the MSC certification.
Kerry Coughlin, Americas regional director, MSC, said: “Halibut is prime whitefish with high demand in North American east coast and global markets and this certification demonstrates to retail and restaurant customers that halibut landed by the Canadian Atlantic halibut fishery are harvested in a well managed and sustainable manner to preserve the stock for this and future generations."
Bruce Chapman, executive director, Atlantic Halibut Council, added: “With significant increases in the fishery over recent years in a challenging and changing natural environment, we feel MSC certification has confirmed our ability to use our knowledge to sustain our fishery for the future."
The Atlantic halibut fishery is managed by Canada’s department of Fisheries and Oceans with a total allowable catch (TAC) of 2,200 tonnes in the quota year ending 31 March 2013 in the zones covered by the MSC certificate.
