The Marine Stewardship Council reached a milestone on Friday.
The Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association’s (PFA) North East Atlantic mackerel harvest is the 50th fishery worldwide to earn MSC certification as well managed and sustainable.
It’s also the second PFA fishery and third mackerel fishery worldwide to receive the MSC eco-label.
The fishery comprises 27 freezer-trawlers owned by 10 companies from six European Union countries. The vessels catch mackerel using single- and pair-pelagic mid-water trawls and land about 60,000 metric tons of mackerel annually.
“Acquiring the MSC certificate for our mackerel fishery fits perfectly well in our ambition to be competitive and to have a sustainable fisheries operation at the same time,” said PFA President Gerard van Balsfoort.
“I am delighted to welcome the 50th MSC certified fishery. With the certification of its herring fishery in 2006, PFA has been instrumental in driving the certification of North Sea pelagic fisheries,” said MSC CEO Rupert Howes.
More than 150 fisheries are engaged in the MSC program, with 49 certified, 108 under assessment and 20 to 30 in confidential pre-assessment. Collectively, the fisheries represent more than 5 million metric tons of seafood.
