SWEDEN’S Eastern and Western Baltic cod fisheries have started their assessment against the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.

The Swedish fishery is the third Baltic cod fishery to enter assessment this year following the Denmark Eastern Baltic cod in August and the Germany Eastern Baltic cod which entered assessment in November. If the fishery is successful, then Swedish Baltic cod will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel once Chain of Custody traceability has been established.

The Eastern and Western Baltic Swedish fisheries catch 8,901 tonnes and 2,714 tonnes respectively using mainly demersal trawls, gillnets and longlines.  The fisheries run year-round and the Swedish fishery lands its catch into the ports of Karlskrona and Simrishamn after which it is sold to the fresh market or for processing.

Yngve Björkman and Henrik Svenberg, representing the Swedish Processing Industry and Swedish Fisheries respectively says: “This move towards MSC certification is important, timely and well founded. MSC certification will contribute to the Swedish fishing industry both domestically and on the export market.”

Nicolas Guichoux, European Director of the MSC says: “I am very pleased that the Swedish Baltic cod fisheries have decided to bring these important fisheries into MSC full assessment. A lot of effort has been made to improve this fishery over the past years so stakeholders will certainly follow this assessment with great interest.”