THE Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association Atlanto Scandian herring fishery has entered full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council certification.

If successful, the fishery will be able to display the MSC eco-label on its products. The Atlanto Scandian herring fishery is PFA's third fishery to enter the MSC programme, following certification of its North Sea herring in 2006 and its North East Atlantic mackerel fishery in 2009.

Gerard van Balsfoort, president of PFA says: “The certification of our previous fisheries gave us a competitive edge in the market. It is logical that we seek certification for another of our fisheries."

The PFA Atlanto Scandian herring fisheries comprises 26 freezer-trawlers owned by ten companies from six EU-countries. The vessels catch Atlanto Scandian herring using pelagic midwater trawls and have an allocated catch for 2009 of approximately 41,000 metric tonnes of Atlanto Scandian herring. This is approximately 2.5% of the 2009 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) set for this fishery and 39% of the European Union's share in this TAC.

Camiel Derichs, Manager Northern Europe of the MSC says: “The certification of the PFA herring fishery in 2006 really triggered the certification of the North Sea pelagic fisheries. I am happy to see that sustainability is becoming firmly embedded in Northern Europe's pelagic fisheries. I wish the PFA a successful assessment of their Atlanto Scandian herring fishery against MSC standards”.