The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has announced that the coldwater prawn trawl fishery from West Greenland is seeking certification to the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing.
The fishery will undergo an independent assessment to determine whether it meets the MSC requirements on stock condition, impacts on the marine environment and management systems. If the assessment result is positive coldwater prawns from West Greenland may carry the MSC's internationally recognised eco-label.
The fishery comprises an inshore and an offshore fleet with a total of 35 smaller vessels and 12 factory vessels. The fishery uses otter trawls to target prawns in waters around West Greenland. The total allowable catch for both West and East Greenland is 139,700 tonnes and the West Greenland coldwater prawn trawl fishery accounts for 127,300 tonnes in 2008.
