Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) fleets fishing in the Barents Sea can now claim to be producing sustainable cold water prawns.
The NSC fleets in the Barents recently received Friend of the Sea designation, making them eligible to display the international sustainability seal on their prawn products.
According to a release, the fleets fish “well within” the maximum sustainable yield, the fishing does not interfere with designated marine protected areas, and restrictions are applied in order to preserve the seabed (no trawling is allowed in waters shallower than 60m).
In addition the fishing vessels report discards below 8 percent, with almost no bycatch, and real-time electronic reporting systems allow authorities to monitor catches.
“Norwegian Seafood Council is by far the best example of sustainable prawn fishery management worldwide,” said Friend of the Sea Director Paolo Bray.
“Norway has for years been acknowledged as one of the world’s leading within sustainable seafood management,” said Ove Johansen, the NSC’s branch director of prawns and shellfish. “We are now pleased that Friend of the Sea have certified Norwegian Prawns as sustainable harvested, and see it as an important tool in many of our main markets."
