The first three vessels have successfully been certified under the new Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), led by the UK’s Seafish.
The Branscombe Pearl and Manta Ray II vessels in Devon, and the Britannia V in Cornwall, and their respective skippers will each hold the certification for two years and participate in annual checks to ensure the standard is adhered to.
RFS was first launched in 2006 and was one of the first initiatives enabling fishing vessel owners and the supply chain to demonstrate their compliance with industry best practice on board fishing vessels and commitment to responsibly sourced seafood.
The revised scheme will offer enhanced certification credibility for all of those vessel applicants who sign up. It is now the only programme certifying crew welfare, as well as responsible catching practices on vessels.
Mick Bacon, RFS Manager said, “In today’s huge and diverse marketplace traceability and sourcing environmentally sustainable seafood is no longer enough. There is a collective call for seafood stocks to be ethically harvested too and as a result we are working with fishermen at the heart of that supply chain to meet an industry gold-standard which is globally applicable.”
The first three vessels certified are part of a UK-wide pilot audit programme which Seafish is carrying out to ensure the application and audit process are fit for purpose for future RFS applicants. Around 20 vessels are taking part and will provide feedback to Seafish and independent certification body Acoura Marine on their experience.
On receiving his RFS certification, skipper of Manta Ray II,Bob Carless, from Axmouth in East Devon said, “When it comes to setting standards to help address the issues affecting our industry, Seafish has always led the charge. I have always had a strong ‘care of catch’ record and when I heard that there was an opportunity to go through the RFS certification again, I saw this as the perfect way to demonstrate that officially to my customers.
“Because the new auditing process is so comprehensive, it really makes achieving the new certification something to be proud of. It also instantly adds to the profile of any vessel that completes it. Especially as the new qualification has an additional focus of the safety and wellbeing of all crew members. Being one of the first vessels to qualify is a great feeling.”
