September 4, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Omega Protein’s Atlantic menhaden fishery was granted certification against the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainable fishing.
After two years of a thorough review by, SAI Global, an independent auditor, and detailed stakeholder input, the certification was achieved. Products that are displayed with the MSC blue label allow consumers to have a peace of mind when purchasing the product as it shows the fish was sourced sustainably.
˜When we started this process in the Spring of 2017, we were confident that our Atlantic menhaden fishery could meet the high bar for MSC certification,” said Bret Scholtes, CEO of Omega Protein. Now that our fishery is officially certified, consumers around the world will know the work our fishermen do every day to ensure our products come from a sustainable, responsibly harvested resource.”
NOAA highlighted the menhaden as one of the most effective fisheries in the world due to its minimal bycatch. The fishery is the second largest in the country, sitting behind only Alaska pollock. Recent stock assessments also show that the species is not being overfished as well.
During Omega Protein’s MSC sustainability criteria testing, they performed well as they had above-average scores in every category, with the best scores coming in the environmental impact and management categories.
“Congratulations to Omega Protein on achieving certification,” said Brian Perkins, Americas Director for the Marine Stewardship Council. “The certification signifies a dedication not only to sustainable menhaden fishing and to safeguarding marine ecosystems, but supporting the hardworking fishermen, processors, and everyone else who depend on the fishery for their livelihoods.”
This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.