A new partnership is spearheading the aim to assess North Sea Cod stocks to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard, following the species showing positive signs of recovery in the wild.
If successful, it could mean that North Sea cod will hit supermarket shelves with a MSC certified sustainable ecolabel for the very first time.
This historic assessment, which is expected to be commissioned in early 2016, is being pioneered and funded by a globally unique client group partnership consisting of fishermen's organisations, processors and retailers.
Icelandic Seachill is leading an application to the Seafish Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) to support the assessment, which has successfully passed the first stage.
Nigel Edwards, technical and CSR director at Icelandic Seachill, said: “The status of North Sea cod is a barometer used frequently by the media to represent the sustainability of fish in general. It’s great to see all levels of the supply chain working together with a common goal of sustainable fisheries, and we hope to emulate this partnership to secure the recovery and certification of fisheries.”
Members currently providing a financial contribution and support in kind include Icelandic Seachill, the Scottish Fisheries Sustainable Accreditation Group (SFSAG), Marks and Spencer, WM Morrison, Sainsbury’s, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) and Young’s Seafood.
North Sea cod’s historical decline has been well documented by media and it has become a focal point of campaigns by NGO’s.
If the bid is successful, MSC certified sustainable North Sea cod could have a dramatic effect on consumer confidence and buying habits.
