Certifier : 
Acoura Marine Limited trading as LRQA
Certified status : 
Withdrawn
Certified since : 
10 May 2016
Certificate expires : 
09 Nov 2021

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

  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification)
    UoC-1132 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1128 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (mechanized) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1127 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1130 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1122 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1121 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1124 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1123 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1131 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1125 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1126 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1120 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-1129 Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) 2019 778,341

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 08 Feb 2021 1 files
Other document: List of client group members (processors) 29 Jun 2016 1 files

About this Fishery

The Mackerel Industry Northern Sustainability Alliance (MINSA) came together in 2012. The North East Atlantic mackerel stock had faced overfishing due to increased activity from fishing vessels outside of MSC certification. International agreements aimed at managing the stock had broken down and all MSC certificates were suspended. 

The fishery in its current form was certified in 2016, following two years of assessment.

“This certification involved a truly unprecedented partnership approach and is a strong demonstration of the commitment of northern European pelagic fishermen to sustainable fishing and the responsible long-term management of the fishery”.
- Ian Gatt, coordinator for MINSA

The MINSA group is made up of over 700 fishing boats from small coastal handline vessels through to large ocean-going pelagic trawlers. They come from eleven countries including: Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France, Republic of Ireland and Lithuania.

Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

Market Information

The catch is sold as smoked mackerel, fillet, canned, whole frozen, and headed and gutted to European, African and Asian markets.