North Atlantic swordfish fishery enters MSC

U.S. North Atlantic Swordfish fishery has completed all requirements to enter full assessment for MSC certification.

The press release shows that Day Boat Seafood LLC of Lake Park, Florida has entered the U.S. North Atlantic swordfish longline and buoy gear fishery into full, independent, third-party assessment against the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) principles and criteria for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. After successful completion of assessment the products of this fishery can use prestigious MSC ecolabel.

Currently certificate being issue to vessels fishing in the Southeast U.S. North Atlantic portion of the fishery, which fish predominantly in the federal waters of the east coast of Florida. The new assessment will determine the sustainability of the U.S. fishery in the North Atlantic and excludes the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The fishery entering full assessment is located in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, on the U.S. east coast, FAO statistical area 31. North Atlantic swordfish are managed as Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act. The product is sold as fresh swordfish in the U.S.

Debbie Lewis, Director of Compliance and Sustainability for Day Boat Seafood said that this is a second MSC label that the company sought and this would expand its sustainable fishing practices for swordfish to the rest of the U.S. east coast. Kerry Coughlin, Regional Director, Americas, said that it is good to see Dayboat Seafoods demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and now expand that commitment by entering the U.S. North Atlantic swordfish fishery into full assessment.

Source: msc.org"

WorldFishingToday d. 02-05-2012