The Vilsund Blue East Jutland Blue mussel fishery has been certified against the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) environmental standard for sustainable fishing.
This is the second fishery to become certified as part of the Danish company’s continuous commitment to sustainable fishing.
To successfully complete the rigorous third-party assessment, the fishery had to demonstrate healthy mussel stocks, sustainable ecosystem impacts, and an effective fisheries management system. The independent team of expert scientists did not identify any significant weaknesses but set two conditions, namely to produce a research plan and to continue to provide information for adequate monitoring of the stock.
The certified blue mussel dredge fishery operates in the southern Kattegat year-round. Vilsund Blue undertakes self-management of the fishery, voluntarily harvesting less than the quota allows. Last year the company harvested only 3,100MT out of a quota set at 23,000MT, and the mussels were then sold preserved, fresh or frozen, mostly to markets in mainland Europe
The fishery is managed at a national level by the Danish Commission of Commercial Fisheries with members from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries/ Fisheries directorate, as well as local councils.
Vilsund Blue says, “We are happy that our effort to be and to remain sustainable now is something we proudly can announce loud and clear,” says Mr Sören Mattesen, Vilsund Blue.
