The Marine Stewardship Council on Monday announced two French saithe fisheries, Scapêche and the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo, have jointly applied for certification.
If certified, saithe from nine vessels from the Scapêche fleet and one from the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo will be able to carry the MSC eco-label for sustainable fisheries. In 2008 the companies harvested 4,000 metric tons of saithe.
"This is the third French fishery to enter full assessment. This move confirms a growing interest from the French fishing industry in sustainable seafood. The MSC program is gaining momentum in France,” said Edouard Le Bart, MSC France commercial manager. “This wouldn't be possible without the entry of French fisheries in the MSC program. I hope that Scapêche and the Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo will provide a wealth of insights. If the outcome is positive, this will help increase the number of MSC-labeled products available to French consumers."
The Compagnie des Pêches Saint-Malo has said it will also seek MSC certification for other species, including cod and haddock.
The assessment will be carried out by independent certifier MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd.
