- Certifier :
- Control Union (UK) Limited
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 13 Jul 2017
- Certificate expires :
- 19 Jul 2028
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
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) | 2023 | 442.1 |
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
The Lake Mälaren and Lake Vänern pikeperch fishery was MSC certified in 2017.
Pikeperch or zander (Sander lucioperca) is a member of the perch family, found mostly in lakes. The meat is white and tender, making it popular in fish dishes across Scandinavia and Europe. In Sweden, pikeperch is the most economically important species for the commercial freshwater fisheries.
Licensing and regulations control the number of fishers and the type of fishing gear, ensuring that fish stocks and habitats are protected. The mesh used in fish traps and gillnets reduces the catch of fish below 45cm long. Fish below this size are released alive from fish traps, with tagging showing a good survival rate.
"Prior to certification, we introduced improvements such as increasing the minimum size of the pikeperch and using nets with a larger mesh size. With these changes, catches of smaller fish has fallen dramatically."
- Conny Gustavsson, Chairman of Lake Vänern’s Fishermen's Federation.
Catches vary from year to year. In Sweden's largest lake, Vänern there are about 70 fishers, catching between 60 and 120 tonnes of pikeperch per year. In Mälaren, 33 pikeperch fishers catch between 100 and 200 tonnes per year.
Pikeperch (Sander Lucioperca) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book
Market Information
Some of the pikeperch is delivered directly to the MSC certified fish auction in Stockholm, which opened in November 2016. A large part is exported to Germany and the Netherlands where there is high demand for the species.