Scottish group aims for eight MSC certified fisheries

If successful, this will be the first time whiting and Rockall haddock are MSC certified.

Mike Park, chair of SFSAG, said: "The Scottish fishing industry remains committed to sustainable harvesting of the stocks in the waters around our shores. We have much to be proud of as an industry and are keen to showcase our best practice through the gold standard of MSC certification. These latest stocks to enter the certification process will not be the last in what we see as a long line."

Rockall haddock is the same species as its North Sea and West of Scotland friends but from a different population. Spawning happens between March and May however the haddock is available all year round.

Haddock is the most important demersal whitefish species to Scottish fishermen. Over 27,000 tonnes of haddock were landed into Scotland by Scottish vessels in 2015 worth £37m – almost 4,000 of this is Rockhall haddock.

Hake is increasing in popularity in the UK and, if SFSAG is successful, this will be the second MSC certified hake fishery in the UK. This assessment could increase the supply of MSC labelled UK hake by 13,000 tonnes a year.

Hake, whiting and plaice are being added as a ‘scope extension’ to the currently certified Scottish North Sea haddock fishery.

This means that the fishery was already catching these species and their sustainability was taken into account in the original assessment, but its primary focus was haddock.

“SFSAG has shown a longstanding commitment to sustainability and its great news that they continue to push forward with the aim of getting more and more fisheries certified as sustainable and well-managed and meeting market demand for sustainable seafood,” said Claire Pescod, UK & Ireland fisheries outreach manager.

She concluded: “The Scottish fleet has worked hard to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and this is another example of that commitment. Good luck to their assessment.”