Scapêche crab certified sustainable

Crab caught by Scapêche, the fishing arm of French retailer Intermarche, can now bear the traceability credential of the pêche responsable, or responsible fishing, label.

The crab was recently awarded the label following an investigation by third-party auditor Bureau Veritas into the fishing practices at Britanny-based Scapêche.
 
Crab is the latest addition to the growing list of seafood products from Scapêche to earn the pêche responsable label. Blue ling, saithe, anglerfish and hake have all attained the label.
 
Scapêche is a fleet of fishing boats that operate in French waters in the Atlantic and Antarctic. The crew harvests and freezes seafood destined for European, Asian and American markets.

The fishing fleet that feeds seafood to Intermarche customers is increasingly taking strides toward sustainability. Together with the Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo, the fleet recently kick-started the assessment process to acquire Marine Stewardship Council certification for saithe.

In 2008, the total landings between Scapeche and CoPSM vessels came in at 3,179 metric tons; the main commercial market for saithe products from this fishery is France. The assessment process is slated for completion by July 2010.
Arguably, the move to the MSC, as opposed to solely with Bureau Veritas auditor, is to project the sustainability message to a wider audience.

But, by contrast, while the MSC eco-label pertains to the management of fish stocks, the Bureau Veritas certification also concerns fishermen and the social aspect of fishing.

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