The Dutch Association of Suspended Mussel Culture Farmers has entered full assessment for MSC certification.
The Association is the second Dutch fishery to enter full MSC assessment following the allocation of a certification grant from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. In total a subsidy of €1m with a maximum of €100,000 per applicant was available.
The Dutch blue shell mussel and suspended culture fishery is located in the Dutch coastal region of the Waddenzee and Zeeland delta and comprises four members. The fishery produces mussels collected as spat on mussel seed catching systems that grow-out on suspended ropes or nets. The fishery is eligible for the MSC fisheries assessment process under the enhanced fisheries policy. The total landings in 2008/2009 were 500 to 900 tonnes. The mussels are mainly sold to the Belgian and Dutch markets through retail and restaurants.
The Dutch Association of Suspended Mussel Culture Farmers was founded in 1994 with the mission to stimulate and increase the farming of shell fish, particularly mussels by means of suspended culture in the waters of Zeeland. Its president, Jaap Geleijnse, says:
"Our two most important activities are to stimulate the sales of cultured products and their promotion. The suspended mussel culture farmers target the mussel market with a sustainable, appealing and guaranteed high-quality product from the waters of Zeeland. We decided to seek MSC certification of suspended culture mussels so we could demonstrate that our fishery is sustainable and meets the highest standard. We are confident that we will achieve successful assessment and that our mussels will be permitted to carry the MSC ecolabel."
The assessment will be carried out by independent certifier SGS Nederland B.V.
