The New Zealand Southern blue whiting trawl fishing has earned Marine Stewardship Council certification, the London-based organization announced on Wednesday. It’s the third New Zealand fishery to receive the distinction.
The certification comprises the vessels nominated by Deepwater Group operating in the Bounty Platform, Campbell Island and Pukaki Rise management areas within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone.
Catches are mostly taken by semi-pelagic trawling methods. In 2010-11, the total allowable catch (TAC) was 44,848 metric tons, and, in that period, about 39,000 metric tons was landed. The volume of whiting taken in these management areas varies depending on the TAC set by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
The whiting is processed on board, with the majority of the catch is exported to Japan, Europe, Russia and Spain. Southern blue whiting makes a high quality surimi product, with one-third of the catch shipped to Japan and the United States in this form. Fillers are also exported to Australia.
Also certified are New Zealand’s hoki fishery and albacore tuna troll fishery.
