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Published: September 6, 2008
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The Russian Pollack Association has entered the full assessment process for certification to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) global standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Members of the Russian Pollack Association will be assessed across two different fisheries: the Western Bering Sea pollock fishery and the Sea of Okhotsk pollock fishery.
MSC runs a widely recognized international certification and eco-labeling program for sustainability in wild-capture fisheries. In accordance with the MSC standard, the assessment will evaluate the status of the Russian pollock stock (Theragra chalcogramma, also known as walleye pollock); the impacts that the fisheries have on the marine ecosystem; and the management system overseeing the fishery.
"We are proud that the Russian Pollack Association is one of the first Russian fisheries to enter assessment for certification to the MSC standard," said German Zverev, president of the Russian Pollack Association. "We pay careful attention to conserving the pollock stock as a key sea resource in the Russian Far-East seas and to preserving the eco-system of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Meeting the MSC standard is an excellent way to demonstrate seafood sustainability to consumers around the world, and for this reason we have chosen to aim for MSC certification."
The Russian Pollack Association is a non-profit organization that assists in developing market relationships between its 29 member fishing companies and potential customers. Association members catch approximately 54 percent of the Western Bering Sea pollock quota and 59 percent of the total quota for the Sea of Okhotsk. These Russian Pollack Association quota holdings mean a total potential catch in 2008 of 700,000 metric tonnes of pollock across the fisheries being assessed.
Jim Humphreys, fisheries director for MSC, said, "Pollock is an immensely important species of fish in the global seafood market. We welcome the two Russian Pollack Association fisheries into the MSC program and appreciate their goal of achieving MSC’s rigorous sustainability certification."
Caught by mid-water trawl, Russian pollock is used for a number of seafood products around the world, including pollock roe, which is principally exported to the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets. Pollock fillets from these two fisheries supply Russian, Asian and European markets. Pollock surimi paste is also produced for domestic Russian use and is exported internationally.
Independent third-party certifier TAVEL Certification Inc. will conduct both assessments concurrently and estimates that they will take 24 to 30 months to complete. As with all assessments against the MSC standard, external stakeholders will be asked to provide comments throughout the assessment process to ensure that all relevant knowledge about the fishery is taken into account.
Prime codfish added to the MSC program
The Norwegian Seafood Export Council has entered Norway’s North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries into full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. If successful, 174,000 MT of Norwegian cod and 76,500 MT of Norwegian haddock will be allowed to bear the MSC eco-label.
The fisheries comprise a wide variety of boats from large, state-of-the-art offshore trawlers to small coastal vessels using a mixture of fishing gears including trawls, longlines, Danish seines, handlines and gill nets to catch cod and haddock. The fisheries take place inside the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone north of the 62nd parallel (ICES areas I and II). The fish has a global market with saltfish, clipfish and stockfish on sale in southern Europe and Latin America and fillets, fresh and frozen fish being sold in Germany, France and the UK.
Tove Sleipnes, Marketing manager, whitefish, Norwegian Seafood Export Council says: "Norway has a tradition for managing its fisheries in harmony with nature, and has been internationally regarded as one of the world’s leading in sustainable fisheries management. This is a story that we are proud to tell. We are convinced that an MSC-certification will be an effective marketing tool, and a great way to ensure even more credibility in the market place for Norwegian cod and haddock."
Camiel Derichs, MSC’s Commercial Manager for Northern Europe says: "This is a hugely significant move from the Norwegian seafood industry. This fishery is looking to demonstrate its sustainability using the most respected seafood eco-label in the world. I am confident that today’s entry into full assessment will benefit the Norwegian seafood industry for years to come."
Geir-Ove Ystmark, Director of Industrial Politics, Norwegian Seafood Federation says: “3rd party documentation of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the market, and MSC has taken a leading position among the standards. MSC certification of cod and haddock will, together with other ways of documenting our management system, strengthen Norway’s position in the important Northern European markets.”
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC, acknowledges the historic significance of the occasion: "The Norwegian Seafood Export Council’s move to bring these iconic cod and haddock fisheries into full assessment is a historic development. These fisheries have global markets but are of particular significance in northern European markets. Two and a half months ago, we celebrated the certification of the Norwegian saithe fishery. I hope that, next year, we will be celebrating the certification of the Norwegian North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries.
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Published: September 6, 2008
Print
EmailThe Russian Pollack Association has entered the full assessment process for certification to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) global standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Members of the Russian Pollack Association will be assessed across two different fisheries: the Western Bering Sea pollock fishery and the Sea of Okhotsk pollock fishery.
MSC runs a widely recognized international certification and eco-labeling program for sustainability in wild-capture fisheries. In accordance with the MSC standard, the assessment will evaluate the status of the Russian pollock stock (Theragra chalcogramma, also known as walleye pollock); the impacts that the fisheries have on the marine ecosystem; and the management system overseeing the fishery.
"We are proud that the Russian Pollack Association is one of the first Russian fisheries to enter assessment for certification to the MSC standard," said German Zverev, president of the Russian Pollack Association. "We pay careful attention to conserving the pollock stock as a key sea resource in the Russian Far-East seas and to preserving the eco-system of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Meeting the MSC standard is an excellent way to demonstrate seafood sustainability to consumers around the world, and for this reason we have chosen to aim for MSC certification."
The Russian Pollack Association is a non-profit organization that assists in developing market relationships between its 29 member fishing companies and potential customers. Association members catch approximately 54 percent of the Western Bering Sea pollock quota and 59 percent of the total quota for the Sea of Okhotsk. These Russian Pollack Association quota holdings mean a total potential catch in 2008 of 700,000 metric tonnes of pollock across the fisheries being assessed.
Jim Humphreys, fisheries director for MSC, said, "Pollock is an immensely important species of fish in the global seafood market. We welcome the two Russian Pollack Association fisheries into the MSC program and appreciate their goal of achieving MSC’s rigorous sustainability certification."
Caught by mid-water trawl, Russian pollock is used for a number of seafood products around the world, including pollock roe, which is principally exported to the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets. Pollock fillets from these two fisheries supply Russian, Asian and European markets. Pollock surimi paste is also produced for domestic Russian use and is exported internationally.
Independent third-party certifier TAVEL Certification Inc. will conduct both assessments concurrently and estimates that they will take 24 to 30 months to complete. As with all assessments against the MSC standard, external stakeholders will be asked to provide comments throughout the assessment process to ensure that all relevant knowledge about the fishery is taken into account.
Prime codfish added to the MSC program
The Norwegian Seafood Export Council has entered Norway’s North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries into full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. If successful, 174,000 MT of Norwegian cod and 76,500 MT of Norwegian haddock will be allowed to bear the MSC eco-label.
The fisheries comprise a wide variety of boats from large, state-of-the-art offshore trawlers to small coastal vessels using a mixture of fishing gears including trawls, longlines, Danish seines, handlines and gill nets to catch cod and haddock. The fisheries take place inside the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone north of the 62nd parallel (ICES areas I and II). The fish has a global market with saltfish, clipfish and stockfish on sale in southern Europe and Latin America and fillets, fresh and frozen fish being sold in Germany, France and the UK.
Tove Sleipnes, Marketing manager, whitefish, Norwegian Seafood Export Council says: "Norway has a tradition for managing its fisheries in harmony with nature, and has been internationally regarded as one of the world’s leading in sustainable fisheries management. This is a story that we are proud to tell. We are convinced that an MSC-certification will be an effective marketing tool, and a great way to ensure even more credibility in the market place for Norwegian cod and haddock."
Camiel Derichs, MSC’s Commercial Manager for Northern Europe says: "This is a hugely significant move from the Norwegian seafood industry. This fishery is looking to demonstrate its sustainability using the most respected seafood eco-label in the world. I am confident that today’s entry into full assessment will benefit the Norwegian seafood industry for years to come."
Geir-Ove Ystmark, Director of Industrial Politics, Norwegian Seafood Federation says: “3rd party documentation of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the market, and MSC has taken a leading position among the standards. MSC certification of cod and haddock will, together with other ways of documenting our management system, strengthen Norway’s position in the important Northern European markets.”
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC, acknowledges the historic significance of the occasion: "The Norwegian Seafood Export Council’s move to bring these iconic cod and haddock fisheries into full assessment is a historic development. These fisheries have global markets but are of particular significance in northern European markets. Two and a half months ago, we celebrated the certification of the Norwegian saithe fishery. I hope that, next year, we will be celebrating the certification of the Norwegian North East Arctic cod and haddock fisheries.
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