Several fishing associations are entering European anchovies into full sustainability assessment with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for the first time.
The groups are trying to prove the sustainability of the Cantabrian Sea (Bay Of Biscay) anchovy fishery. A third-party organization, Bureau Veritas, will evaluate the fishery independently on behalf of the MSC. If it passes, all the anchovy caught by the fishery will be able to carry the blue MSC ecolabel.
"There is high commercial interest in the MSC certified Cantabrian anchovy,” said Laura Rodríguez, MSC Spain and Portugal country manager. “European consumers increasingly seek the sustainability credentials granted by our certification, as well as the known quality of Cantabrian anchovies and the closeness of the fishing grounds. The certificate is open, so other fleets will very probably join soon, broadening the offer of Cantabrian products bearing the MSC ecolabel."
