The Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) has gained MSC certification for all Norwegian North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries.
In 2012 an expected total of 340,000MT of Norwegian cod and 153,000MT of Norwegian haddock will be eligible to use the MSC Eco-label.
The North East Arctic cod and haddock MSC certification includes the fisheries that take place in the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone (ICES areas I and II), from mid-Norway and northwards along the coast and into the Barents Sea. A variety of gear types are within the scope of the certification, including trawl, longlines, handlines, gill nets, jigging and Danish seines.
The fishery had to meet certain challenges in order to attain the MSC standard. While target cod and haddock stocks in the Barents Sea were at healthy population levels, and overall well-managed, a pre-assessment indicated areas where co-operation and changes to management would be required. Managing the impact of the fisheries on bycatch of coastal cod, a distinct cod population for which stock status was uncertain according to Norwegian scientists, was one such challenge. During the assessment process, and testament to the commitment of the Norwegian Seafood industry and fisheries management to manage fisheries for the future, a rebuilding plan for coastal cod was adopted. This rebuilding plan aims to reduce fishing pressure on the coastal cod stocks though gear regulations, adoption of a high minimum landing size, closed areas and so forth. With this rebuilding plan in place, MSC certification for the NEA cod and haddock fisheries became possible.
