The 7,000-tonne Domstein Longliner Partners North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries, run by Domstein - one of Norway’s leading fishing companies, are seeking assessment against the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) independent environmental standard.
It is the first time a haddock fishery has sought the blue eco-label that, if awarded, will assure consumers the fishery meets the MSC’s strict principles and criteria for sustainable fishing.
The fisheries’ 10 longline boats together catch 7,000 tonnes of cod and haddock annually in the Norwegian and Barents Sea. All of the catch is caught by vessels organised by Ervik Havfisk and is processed by Domstein Fish in Målöy, Norway.The two companies have formed the Domstein Longliner Group to host the assessment, which will be undertaken by Moody Marine Ltd, a company accredited to assess fisheries against the MSC standard. Staff from Moody Marine’s Scandinavian offices (in Sandefjord, Bergen and Alesund) and UK Offices will carry out the assessment.
Rolf Domstein, CEO of Domstein ASA, commented: “The longline boats are highly selective and has minimal impact on marine habitats. We believe that European buyers will be very interested in certified cod and haddock from Norway, and we are ready to get started on the assessment process immediately.”
Rupert Howes, CEO of the MSC said: “This exciting announcement brings two of Europe’s most popular fish species into the MSC programme. Markets are increasingly demanding rigorous third-party assurance of seafood sustainability, and we believe this decision will bring real and lasting benefits to the fishery.”
