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Marine Stewardship Council |
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The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a global, non-profit organisation that works to promote responsible and sustainable fishing practices. It was established by Unilever and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 1997 and has worked as an independent organisation since 1999. The MSC has offices in the UK and around the world, from America to Australia.
The MSC believes that commercial fisheries have an obligation to operate responsibly and sustainably, and that demonstrating environmental responsibility though a transparent supply chain creates a well informed consumer, which in turn drives demand for sustainably sourced seafood.
To achieve its goal of improving the state of the world’s seafood stocks and the health of the marine ecosystem, the MSC has developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. This provides independent certification of commercially exploited fisheries and stocks. Seafood products from MSC certified fisheries are identified by an eco-label.
For more information about MSC follow this link:
http://www.msc.org/html/content_462.htm
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Photo: Wester Ross Net
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Scotland currently has one fishery, the Loch Torridon nephrops creel fishery, which is certified as sustainable to the MSC standard. It was first accredited in January 2003, and is currently undergoing its first re-assessment. More details on the status of this fishery can be found at:
http://www.msc.org/html/content_619.htm
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The following Scottish fisheries are also undergoing full assessment towards certification and are at varying stages in this process:
• Clyde Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl and creel fisheries
• North Sea herring (Clupea harengus) Scottish trawl fishery
• Western component of North East Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Scottish trawl fishery
• Stornoway Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl fishery
• North Sea haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) trawl fishery
• North Sea Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl fishery
Further information on these fisheries applications and status can also be found at the MSC website as above.
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Photo: Edward Parker
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Responsible sourcing