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The Northwest Atlantic Canadian longline and harpoon swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fisheries have announced their entry into the full assessment process for MSC certification. MSC operates the leading global certification program and eco-label for sustainable and well managed fisheries. If the fisheries pass the assessment, they will be awarded MSC certification.
The client for the longline fishery is the Nova Scotia Swordfishermen’s Association, and the client for the harpoon fishery is the Swordfish Harpoon Association. The Nova Scotia Swordfishermen’s Association is comprised of the 77 swordfish longline license holders in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick, along with some fish processors, bait and gear suppliers. The Swordfish Harpoon Association represents harpoon harvesters from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick with a current membership of 180, the number of active licenses in the fleet. All members of both associations are under assessment, and they represent 100 percent of directed swordfish capture in Atlantic Canada.
Troy Atkinson of the Nova Scotia Swordfishermen’s Association and Dale Richardson of the Swordfish Harpoon Association released a joint statement saying, “The Canadian swordfish industry, represented by the Nova Scotia Swordfishermen's Association and the Harpoon Swordfish Association are pleased to be the first organizations to proceed to full MSC certification for the North Atlantic swordfish fishery. Through careful management and sustainable fishing practices, both domestically and internationally, the North Atlantic swordfish stock has been fully rebuilt over the last ten-years and with continued sustainable fishing practices will provide fishing opportunities for generations to come. With this in mind, we are pleased to join the growing global fishing community wishing to demonstrate, through MSC certification, the commitment made by our industry to fish in a responsible and sustainable manner.”
“MSC applauds the Northwest Atlantic Canadian longline and harpoon swordfish fisheries for their decision to measure their fisheries against MSC’s international sustainability standard,” said Brad Ack, regional director for MSC Americas. “As the first swordfish fisheries in the world to pursue MSC certification, their entry into assessment will blaze a trail for other fisheries of highly migratory species to hopefully follow suit.”
The two swordfish fisheries are managed at the international level by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and at the national level by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Both the longline and harpoon fisheries capture swordfish inside the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone and in international waters within the ICCAT Northern Swordfish Boundary Area.
The longline fishery receives 90 percent of the Canadian quota of swordfish, while the harpoon fishery receives 10 percent of the quota. Preliminary 2008 catch records provided by DFO show the longline fishery’s at approximately 1,200 tons and the harpoon fishery’s capture at approximately 130 tons, for an approximate total of 1,330 tons. More than 90 percent of the swordfish landed in Atlantic Canada is exported to U.S. fresh markets as headed and gutted fish.
Tavel Certification Inc. is the third-party auditor that will conduct the assessment of these fisheries. The assessment process is expected to take approximately one year.
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