- Certifier :
- LRQA (Seafood) Limited
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 24 Jun 2011
- Certificate expires :
- 18 Jun 2027
Overview
Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.
When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries
Engage with a Fishery Assessment
The following documents are open for stakeholder comment.
| Documents | Closes on | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Surveillance audit announcement | 05 Jan 2025 | 1 files |
As a stakeholder you are an essential source of information needed to conduct a meaningful assessment. To engage with a fishery assessment please register at the start of the process.
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) | 2023 | 46,513 |
| Striped shrimp (Pandalus montagui) | 2023 | 15,819 |
Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.
Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists
A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.
| Documents | Published on | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel List | 09 Sep 2019 | 1 files |
About this Fishery
Two species of Pandalus (prawn/shrimp) are harvested in Canadian waters of the northwest Atlantic. Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is much more abundant and widespread in commercial quantities, and is the subject of most of the studies and assessments. Striped shrimp (Pandalus montagui), although widely distributed from Davis Strait to the Grand Banks, is most abundant in more northerly areas and at shallower depths.
A total of 13 vessels operate in the two fisheries. They use demersal (bottom) otter trawls, with a minimum mesh size of 40mm. Nets are fitted with a Nordmore separator grate. Shrimp pass through the grate, but other fish are directed upwards to an exit window in the upper panel. The grate is mandatory in all fishing areas.
Market Information
Most of the shrimp is sold as frozen-at-sea, raw or cooked with the shell on. It is marketed primarily in Russia, Ukraine, China, Japan and Western Europe.