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.
Attention
Some or all units that participated in this fishery are now covered by another assessment. Please see the DFPO mussel, cockle and oyster for more information.
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) | 2020 | 228 |
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.
About this Fishery
European flat oysters are most commonly found in shallow water down to around 20m, although they also occur in the inter-tidal zone and down to depths of 80m. They are sessile animals, cementing to hard objects on the seabed.
There are 101 oyster dredgers operating in the Limfjord, a shallow inland sea in the north of Denmark. Vessels are restricted to a maximum overall length of 12m (although there are 4 vessels larger than this size that have “grandfather” rights to fish because they were operating in the fishery prior to the introduction of this regulation). Around 50 of the vessels are 12m long, and the rest are smaller.
Fishing licence requirements restrict the size and weight of the dredges used in the oyster fishery. They must be no more than 1m wide and 20cm high, with their weight limited to 35kg. Vessels can use no more than two dredges at a time, and are prohibited from carrying mussel dredges aboard when they are fishing for oysters.
European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book
Market Information
Around 1,000 tonnes of Limfjorden oysters a year are sold on the European market.