An independent committee of the certification company Global Trust/SAI Global has awarded re-certification to Iceland’s Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) program to the country’s haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and saithe (Pollachius virens) fisheries.
Assessment included a review of the Icelandic fisheries management system including laws, regulations and operations; the individual transferable quota (ITQ) system; data collection, research and stock assessment; enforcement activities and an assessment of the fisheries effects on the ecosystem.
Overall, the assessment concluded that the management system and harvest control rules (HCR) adopted a precautionary approach, allowing for responsible harvesting and careful treatment of the wider ecosystem.
For the current fishing year — running September 2014 to August 2015 — Iceland’s haddock and saithe quotas are 30,400 metric tons (MT) and 58,000 MT, respectively.
RFM is based on the articles and minimum substantive criteria described in the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the FAO Guidelines for the Eco-labeling of Fish and Fishery Products.
Once RFM certification is confirmed, the fishery enters a program of annual surveillance assessments to maintain continuing certification, with re-certification required every five years.
Certification is also in place for the country’s cod and golden redfish.
