Major mussel, herring and white fish fisheries awarded grants for re-certification bid

Three British fisheries have been awarded a major boost in their quest to renew their Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

Shetland and Scotland rope grown mussels, the North Sea Herring fishery and the Northeast Arctic cod, haddock and saithe fishery have each received a grant to help pay for their MSC recertification assessment, from the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF). The OSF was established in 2020 to facilitate a sustainable future for seafood through grants such as this and for scientific research.

The news comes as the MSC celebrates Sustainable Seafood September, a month-long celebration of sustainably caught seafood, supported by major retailers and brands and showcasing different UK-based MSC certified fisheries each year.

Shetland’s mussel farms, where the mussels are rope-grown, are responsible for around two-thirds of Scotland’s production (around 9,000 tonnes annually) and became Scotland’s first enhanced fishery to be MSC certified in 2012.

Ruth Henderson, chief executive of Seafood Shetland, said: “We truly value MSC accreditation for our rope-grown mussels, which we’ve proudly held for 12 years. The assistance from MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund has helped to defray the cost of the recent audit. This support is very much appreciated by the organisation and its members.”

The North Sea Herring Fishery, which extends to Denmark and Sweden, was first certified in 2008. The UK component, operated by the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group, catches close to 50,000 tonnes a year with less than 1% bycatch. This fishery has consistently maintained fishing pressure within safe biological limits over many years, demonstrating it is well managed.

The third recipient of the OSF’s Recertification Assistance Fund grant is the Northeast Arctic cod, haddock and saithe fishery. The UK component of the fishery is operated by UK Fisheries Ltd, whose flagship vessel the Kirkella catches up to 780 tonnes of fish per trip and typically lands in Hull. The fishery was successfully certified for the third time.

Lisa Bennett, Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager at MSC, said: “The Ocean Stewardship Fund is once again proving its invaluable role in supporting a sustainable future for seafood.

“These three fisheries have already proved their credentials as environmentally sustainable operators, and this grant will help them with the costs of their recent successful recertifications.”

In the four years since its launch, the OSF has awarded 144 grants totalling more than £5m.