The Danish Pelagic Producers' Organization (DPPO) North Sea herring fishery on Thursday announced it has obtained Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification.
This is the eighth herring fishery and 48th fishery worldwide to earn MSC certification. Now all North Sea herring sold in the Dutch market is eligible to carry the MSC eco-label.
Moreover, under the MSC's new Fishery Assessment Methodology, the assessment of the North Sea herring fishery took just 10 months to complete. Newly accredited independent certifier Det Norske Veritas (DNV) conducted the assessment.
"This is a fantastic achievement by the DPPO fishery and I congratulate them and DNV on their certification in only 10 months," said Nathalie Steins, MSC spokesperson in the Northern Europe region.
The eight-member DPPO uses purse seine and pelagic trawl nets to catch herring in the North Sea. The fishery's 2008 quota was 26,195 metric tons. DPPO vessels are also undergoing MSC assessments for the Atlanto-Scandian herring and North East Atlantic mackerel fisheries.
"We are happy to have concluded the process of certification successfully. Now we look forward to be able to sell certified herring in the market," said Christian Olesen, DPPO director.
The other seven MSC-certified herring fisheries are: Astrid Fiske North Sea herring, Hastings fleet pelagic herring, Norway North Sea and Skagerrak herring, Norway spring spawning herring, Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association North Sea herring, Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group Ltd. North Sea herring and Thames Blackwater drift-net herring.
Collectively, more than 150 fisheries are engaged in the MSC program with 106 under assessment and 20 to 30 in confidential pre-assessment.
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