La Scapêche, a subsidiary of Les Mousquetaires group, has today begun voluntary MSC assessment for its trawl fishery of blue ling (Molva dypterygia), roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) and black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo). An independent assessment team will evaluate the fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) standard for sustainable fishing.
The transparent assessment process will examine the fishery’s impact on fish populations and the marine ecosystem. It will also study the fishery’s management processes to ensure that it is taking all steps necessary to protect the ocean environment for future generations.
Fabien Dulon, La Scapêche’s CEO explains: “We want to continue with the process of improving our fisheries, and especially our trawler fishing of deep-water species. Following many discussions with NGOs, this MSC assessment emerged as one way of ensuring an objective picture of stocks and the marine environment by means of an independent evaluation.”
An independent and transparent assessment
Fisheries enter MSC assessment voluntarily. The process, which takes an average of 17 months, involves a high degree of transparency, with six opportunities for stakeholder input. Assessment is based on the best scientific data available. To obtain certification, the fishery will need to meet the 31 criteria in the MSC’s environmental standard, which are spread across three core principles, namely a good level of fish stocks, the impact of marine ecosystems, and effective fishery management.
Edouard Le Bart, MSC manager in France, comments that “More than 300 fisheries worldwide are now involved in the MSC’s programme, including both artisanal fisheries and large-scale operations alike, targeting more than a hundred different species using all kinds of fishing techniques and vessels. The one thing they all share is that they are assessed against the same high MSC standard.”
The independent assessment will examine the health of stocks of blue ling, rock grenadier and black scabbardfish, the level of incidental catch of non-target species, the fishery’s impact on sensitive sea-bed habitats and the measures in place to mitigate this, and the performance of the management system.
Le Bart adds: “This is the start of a transparent, open and demanding assessment process. La Scapêche will now have to prove its sustainability to obtain MSC certification.”
Find out more about the fishery
Nine of La Scapêche’s trawlers are included in the certification unit for a deep-water stocks fishery which is to be assessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard. Based in Lorient (Brittany) they operate in the north-eastern Atlantic, to the west of Scotland, Ireland and the Celtic Sea.
La Scapêche operates the majority of France’s quotas of black scabbardfish, blue ling and rock grenadier in European waters, mainly intended for the domestic market.
La Scapêche has previously obtained MSC certification for its vessels in three fisheries (saithe in January 2011, purse seine sardine in August 2010, and Kerguelen toothfish in August 2013).
Are you interested in this fishery’s assessment?
The assessment will be conducted by the certification body MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd, assisted by independent expert scientists. The assessment’s findings will be peer reviewed by scientists. No decision regarding certification of the fishery’s sustainability will be taken before the process is completed.
MSC assessment is an opportunity to create dialogue between the fishery and various stakeholders. Stakeholder involvement is essential to the assessment process and the MSC encourages anyone who would like to supply the certification body with information regarding this fishery to participate in this inclusive assessment process by contacting Chrissie Sieben ([email protected]).
Further information
- For media inquiries please contact [email protected]
- Key facts about MSC