Marine Stewardship Council elects new board member

Mr Vartdal brings extensive experience and expertise of the Norwegian fishing industry to the MSC board. He has worked for nine years as undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Fisheries and Director General of Fisheries and has spent nearly three decades’ as Managing Director of Vartdal Fiskeriselskap – one of the leading fishing vessel companies in Norway. As of October this year, Mr Vartdal chairs the Board of Directors of Vartdal Seafood AS.

Will Martin, chairman of the board, says: "Knut Vartdal brings to the MSC extensive backgrounds in both the governmental management of fisheries and the business of commercial fishing and seafood marketing. Norway is rapidly becoming a significant player in the MSC certification programme, and we appreciate its strong tradition and ethic of sustainable management of ocean resources, as reflected in Knut's background. We are very pleased to welcome Knut to our board."

Knut Vartdal states: “I very much look forward to working with the MSC. The MSC is becoming increasingly influential in more countries around the world and has gained much importance in Norway recently. Globally, there is little doubt it is the leading certification organisation for wild capture fish. The certification of ‘Norwegian’ saithe has been of great importance for the Norwegian industry, and I now look forward to future certifications in Norway – particularly cod and haddock.”

Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC, says: “This s a very welcome appointment: Knut is a long-standing member of MSC’s Stakeholder Council with a long and distinguished career in the seafood business. About 70% of Norwegian export fisheries are now involved in the MSC programme. Together they land close to 1.7 million tonnes of fish with a value of approximately €1.5 billion. I am particularly delighted to welcome Knut in light of this significant increase in participation from Norwegian fisheries.”