Certifier : 
Vottunarstofan Tun EHF
Certified status : 
Combined with another assessment
Certified since : 
10 Sep 2014
Certificate expires : 
10 Sep 2019

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 ISF Iceland multi-species demersal fishery for more information.

 

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification) Certificate Code
    UoC-1447 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1449 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1448 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Hooks And Lines - Longlines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1446 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1445 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Trawls - Bottom trawls - nephrops trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1444 Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) Trawls - Bottom trawls - otter trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1453 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1455 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1454 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Hooks And Lines - Longlines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1452 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1451 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls - nephrops trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1450 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls - otter trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31158 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1254 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1255 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1256 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Hooks And Lines - Longlines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1253 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1252 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1257 Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31157 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-0970 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-0971 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-0972 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Hooks And Lines - Longlines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-0969 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-0968 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)
    UoC-1112 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31156 (F-TUN-1106)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) 2018 9,501
Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) 2018 58,820
European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 2018 8,177
Ling (Molva molva) (Molva molva) 2018 7,008

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
List of client group members 10 Jul 2019 1 files

About this Fishery

Saithe (also called coley) is a whitefish closely related to pollock, common in the North Atlantic. The fish mature at around 5-7 years and spawn along coastal banks. Following spawning, larvae settle in inshore areas and migrate to the coastal areas at 2-4 years of age. Smaller saithe feed on crustaceans, while larger saithe feed more on fish.

Saithe occurs all around Iceland but is less common in colder waters at the north and east coasts. It is found at different depths, from the surface to 450m. The size of saithe in Icelandic catches is generally 70-110cm; the largest fish caught around Iceland was 132cm.

The Icelandic Sustainable Fisheries (ISF) saithe fishery lands around 50,000 tonnes of saithe each year using various fishing methods, including bottom trawls, handlines, longlines and Danish seine nets.

While stocks were assessed as sustainable and well managed, the fishery certification includes an agreement to put in place further conservation and management measures for vulnerable marine habitats. This will ensure that delicate structures such as hydrothermal vents and large sponges receive a formal protection in the fishery management.

The ling component of the fishery entered assessment in 2016. 

ISF Iceland fisherman image © Gunnar Þorsteinsson

Market Information

Saithe is primarily processed for export, especially in frozen fillets, though some is also exported salted, dried and fresh. The largest single markets for Iceland saithe are Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Nigeria.