The Norwegian saithe fishery is seeking re-assessment under the MSC’s program for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.
The saithe fishery was the first Norwegian fishery to seek MSC certification, back in 2006, and was successfully certified in 2008. With the re-assessment, the fishery is seeking its second five-year MSC certification. If successful, 212.000t of saithe will continue to carry the MSC eco-label.
The Norwegian saithe fishery targets North Sea saithe and North East Arctic saithe. Both parts of the fishery will take part in the re-assessment, which will seek to include those fishing in coastal and off-shore waters using demersal trawl, gill nets, hook and line, purse seines and Danish seines.
“Norwegian fisheries have long and proud traditions, and strong fishery management has always been important in our way of living and harvesting in harmony with nature. As a result most of Norwegian seafood is certified by MSC. Now the time has come to renew our certificate for Norwegian saithe. We are certain that every part of the supply chain, from the fisherman to the supermarkets will welcome the assurance that the MSC ecolabel provides to consumers that Norwegian saithe is harvested sustainably,” says Ove Johansen, marketing manager at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
