The Southeast US North Atlantic swordfish pelagic longline and handgear buoy line fishery represented by Day Boat Seafood LLC is entering full assessment in the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification program.
The fishery, which operates in the exclusive economic zone of the United States off the US east coast south of 31° N Latitude, will be assessed against the MSC standard and, if successful, products sold through Day Boat Seafood LLC will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.
In 2008, the pelagic longline fishery landed 2,300 metric tons of swordfish and the buoy handgear fishery landed 55.7 metric tons. The fishery operates year-round with its products, primarily fresh swordfish, sold throughout the US market. The client for the assessment is Florida-based Day Boat Seafood LLC.
“Day Boat Seafood LLC is pleased to proceed to full assessment for MSC certification of the Southeast US North Atlantic swordfish fishery,” said Debbie Lewis, director of compliance and sustainability for Day Boat Seafood LLC. “Because we share the seafood sustainability concerns of our customers and see an increasing demand in sourcing from sustainable fisheries, we are eager to measure the fishery against the MSC’s international sustainability standards. Our involvement demonstrates our long-term commitment to our customer’s needs and values, to the protection of the future of our fishermen and their communities, and to the preservation of this valuable resource for future generations.”
