Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, has welcomed the first group certification under the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), a certification programme for commercial fishing vessels which recognises best practice in fishing operations and crew welfare.
This latest award to a group of vessels from the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) is the first time a group of vessels has been collectively assessed against the scheme’s standards. A key benefit of the group certification model is that it provides a more efficient process of certifying new vessels by reducing the number of external audits required for individual vessels.
James Buchan from SWFPA said, “We are absolutely delighted that SWFPA vessels have become the first group to become certified under the Responsible Fishing Scheme.
"With RFS helping to lead the way in responsible sourcing, it’s fantastic that a group of our vessels are the first to gain group certification under the RFS.”
Launched in 2016, the RFS requires vessels and skippers to demonstrate they are operating to industry recognised best practice in five core areas: health, safety and crew welfare; training and professional development; the vessel and its mission; care of the catch and care for the environment.
Vessels may be considered for group application under the scheme if they share a central management system and in-house auditor. SWFPA’s certification brings the total number of RFS vessels certified in the UK to 121.
