More than 700 mackerel fishing vessels are uniting as the Mackerel Industry Northern Sustainability Alliance (MINSA) to begin Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) re-assessment.

MINSA has been formed to respond to the mackerel dispute in the North East Atlantic

The fishing boats range from small coastal handline vessels through to large ocean-going pelagic trawlers. Between them, in 2013 they caught 450,000 tonnes of mackerel, around 83% of the 2013 ICES recommended quota.

“Cooperation on this scale has never been seen before this side of the Atlantic but it’s a clear demonstration of our collective vision for a well-managed and sustainable mackerel fishery,” said Ian Gatt, MINSA co-ordinator.

MINSA has been formed to respond to the mackerel dispute in the North East Atlantic, which continues as the Total Allowable Catch for the North East Atlantic mackerel stock is exceeded.

This led to the suspension of the MSC certificates of all North East Atlantic mackerel fisheries in April 2012.

MSC says the move to enter their members’ vessels to reassessment in one audit underlines the fisheries confidence that the dispute will be resolved and echoes a similar move on Atlanto-Scandian herring in June.

Those involved in the assessment include the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group, the Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation, the Irish Pelagic Sustainability Association, the Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group, the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, the Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association and the Swedish Pelagic Federation Producers Organisation.

“This international cooperation is a great response to a challenging situation,” added Camiel Derichs, director Europe, MSC. “By working together; they’re improving the management of the fishery and making real significant cost savings on their assessment against the MSC Standard.”

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