The fishery client, JFK based in Klaksvik, Faroe Islands, entered the fishery into MSC assessment in August 2017 and the process took 14 months. It was carried out by auditor DNV GL using MSC’s updated Fisheries Standard v2.0. The MSC’s science-based Fisheries Standard is the world’s most credible and recognised standard for environmentally sustainable wild-caught seafood. Produce from this fishery can now be sold globally carrying the blue MSC label.
A traditional fishery fishing for traditional export markets
This fishery operates in the Faroe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank. It is a mixed fishery where annual landings of tusk and ling have been in the vicinity of 2,500 and 5,500 tonnes respectively, with global catches over the last decade for those species at around 35,000 to 45,000 tonnes of ling and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of tusk. Fish under this MSC certificate are primarily caught with demersal trawl and longline, and also some jigging. Main markets for ling and tusk are the saltfish markets like in Portugal, Spain and Italy. The salted product can either be purchased as fillets or butterflied.Gisli Gislason, MSC Senior Program Manager, North-Atlantic said: "This fishery certification is another confirmation that JFK demonstrate leadership in bringing new fisheries in the Faroe into the MSC program. This fishery is certified with conditions, like most newcomers in the program, and we look forward to following the continuous improvements process. By getting this fishery certified as sustainable and well managed against the MSC Standard we hope it will be well received in the main salt fish markets in southern Europe where product from those species are primarily consumed.”
Jógvan Hansen, Sales & Operations Director at JFK said: “For years it has been a key priority for JFK to lead the way for Faroese seafood companies to achieve international recognition for our sustainable fisheries. To base our value creation solely on certifiably sustainable fisheries is our vision. We want to hand our renewable sea resources in as good as or better shape than when we received it from our forefathers. That is sustainability for JFK. We prioritised ling and tusk, since we have experienced increasing sustainability awareness from the customer groups in South Europe.”