Norwegian cod and haddock fishery recertified

The fish products from the fishery are sold globally, with Europe as a core market, and supplies a wide range of restaurants and retailers with both frozen and fresh fillets.

“With high European demand for sustainably caught cod and haddock, this recertification is good news for seafood suppliers. In order to remain certified to the MSC’s robust standard, this fishery has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to research, monitoring and management, consistent with the UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible fisheries. This is a significant achievement which deserves a high level of recognition”, says Camiel Derichs, regional director for MSC Europe.

The fishery was first MSC certified in 2010. This second assessment shows that the cod and haddock stocks in the North East Arctic remain healthy and well managed. Both species have been subject to intense research during the last 60 years, providing a significant body of data on the life history, spawning, distribution and growth of the species.

“When the fishery’s five-year certificate approached its expiry date, there was no doubt about going for recertification. Consumers in many countries are conscious about eco-labelling, and MSC-certification has been an important tool for us to demonstrate the sustainability of our fisheries. Because of this, it was important for our fishermen to be certified for five more years”, says Kjell Ingebrigtsen, chairman of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association.

During the assessment, the potential environmental impact of the fishery was thoroughly analysed and the team found robust evidence of its sustainability. In order to improve the sustainability even further, the fishery will now need to comply with a small number of conditions during the coming years. These include implementing measures to better understand and gather data on bycatch species and take actions to decrease this impact.