Mussels caught in Denmark’s Limfjord by Vilsund Muslinge Industri (VMI) will be the first mussels in the world to carry the MSC ecolabel.
VMI currently catches approximately 30,000mt of mussels annually. Twenty seven fishing vessels land their catch at the VMI A/S factories in Nykøbing Mors and Aggersund, which have also been assessed and certified for traceability.
The mussels are sold ready-shelled, cooked and frozen, or as whole live mussels to markets all over Europe.
Søren T. Mattesen, managing director of Vilsund Muslinge Industri said: “Mussel fisheries have been successfully operating in the Limfjord for over a century. If we want mussel fishing to continue to provide a living for fishers and processors for the next century and beyond, we have to make sustainability our highest priority. The MSC certificate demonstrates that we have successfully done that, and recognises the efforts made by VMI fishers to preserve stocks of blue mussels in the Limfjord.”
The company has been working towards MSC certification for more than two years. A team of independent experts assembled by the certification body Moody Marine has assessed the comprehensive documentation submitted by the company. The report on the fishery was submitted to public review by all interested parties. An initial objection was lodged with Moody Marine by the Danish Society for Nature Conservation in September 2009 but was withdrawn in December.
