July 28, 2013 — Canada’s historic Bay of Fundy and surrounding fishing areas can now add Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) -certified seafood to their list of achievements for a commercial sea scallop fishery that has been in operation since the late 19th century.
The fishery, which entered into assessment by the Full Bay Scallop Association (FBSA), has achieved MSC certification as a sustainable and well-managed fishery following an independent, third-party assessment against the MSC principles. Atlantic sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) from this fishery are now eligible to display the MSC ecolabel.
In the Final Certification Report (FCR) the Conformance Assessment Body (CAB) recognized a core strength that the fishery’s harvest strategy conforms to Canada’s legislative and policy developments in conservation and sustainability objectives that are intended to manage the health and productivity of Canada’s fisheries while protecting diversity and habitat.
The CAB included an action plan that directs the fishery to contribute additional data and information from the fishery and about marine ecosystem impacts over the life of the certification that will help inform managers and regulators.
The sea scallops harvested by the Full Bay Scallop Association fleet are landed fresh, and they are sold fresh and frozen in markets primarily in Canada and the United States. Landings by the FBSA fleet in the 2010/11 season were 1,047 metric tonnes. With certification, scallops landed by this fishery after October 30, 2012, the eligibility date established by the CAB, may use the MSC ecolabel.
Read the full story at Fish Info and Services (FIS)