MSC Fisheries
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Joint demersal fisheries in the North Sea and adjacent waters

Certifier : 
Control Union (UK) Limited
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
31 Oct 2019
Certificate expires : 
30 Apr 2025

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

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • Certified
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-1577 Common sole (Solea solea) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1570 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1584 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Miscellaneous Gear 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1575 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1581 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1569 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1572 Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1573 Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1594 Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1576 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1579 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Miscellaneous Gear 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
  • Suspended
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-1568 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1586 Common sole (Solea solea) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1585 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1571 Ling (Molva molva) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1574 Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) Miscellaneous Gear: Suspended: EZG: SN (3aN), CVO: TR2 (4), SFPO: SDN (4, 3aN), SN (3aN, 3aS), DFPO: SDN (4), LL (4), BT1 (3aN), SDN (3aS), SN (3aS) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
    UoC-1578 Tusk(=Cusk) (Brosme brosme) Miscellaneous Gear 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31443 MSC-F-31444 MSC-F-31445 MSC-F-31446
  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification)
    UoC-1580 Anglerfishes nei (Lophiidae) Miscellaneous Gear 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1582 Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) Miscellaneous Gear 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) 2022 38.9
Tusk(=Cusk) (Brosme brosme) 2022 33.6
Common sole (Solea solea) 2022 1,933.3
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) 2022 1,048.7
Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) 2022 1,037.1
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) 2022 1,670.4
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) 2022 1,701.3
Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) 2022 5,436.6
Anglerfishes nei (Lophiidae) 2016 339.7
European hake (Merluccius merluccius) 2022 1,455.8
European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 2022 6,448.1
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) 2022 926.4
Ling (Molva molva) 2022 886.2

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

Formerly certified under ten individual MSC certificates, this fishery includes 15 separate stocks of 12 species, 10 gear types and 3 catch areas in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat. The certification includes species that are commonly caught together in mixed demersal fisheries.

Four fishery client groups from Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and Germany are involved, see Contacts tab for details.

Please see the Units of Certification & Certificate Information table and download the latest certificate files for detailed current information about the species, stocks, gears and areas that are certified for each client group.