Assessments
The MSC Fisheries Standard is used to assess if a fishery is well-managed and sustainable. More about how the standard is used, what is assessed and the process.
Interested in contributing as a stakeholder? See how you can engage with a fishery assessment.
Please note the reassessment of this fishery is covered by another assessment - North West Atlantic Canada Swordfish and Tuna.
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Recently uploaded documents
Documents Published On Files Variation Response 14 Nov 2023 1 files Variation Request 31 Oct 2023 1 files Stakeholder Announcement: Certificate extension and updated reassessment timeline 16 Jun 2023 1 files Surveillance report 10 Mar 2023 1 files Stakeholder Announcement 22 Feb 2023 1 files Variation Response 20 Feb 2023 1 files Variation Request 13 Feb 2023 1 files -
General Fishery Documents
Document Title File Type Published On Variation Response PDF (118.49 Kb) 14 Nov 2023 Variation Response PDF (118.49 Kb) 14 Nov 2023 Variation Request PDF (239.74 Kb) 31 Oct 2023 Stakeholder Announcement: Certificate extension and updated reassessment timeline PDF (202.72 Kb) 16 Jun 2023 Variation Response PDF (122.09 Kb) 15 Jun 2023 Variation Request PDF (241.07 Kb) 14 Jun 2023 Variation Response PDF (275.87 Kb) 09 Jun 2023 Variation Request PDF (250.55 Kb) 30 May 2023 Stakeholder Announcement PDF (186.83 Kb) 09 Dec 2022 Stakeholder Announcement PDF (186.33 Kb) 05 Dec 2022 Variation Response PDF (127.12 Kb) 02 Dec 2022 Stakeholder Announcement PDF (186.84 Kb) 30 Nov 2022 Variation Request PDF (149.32 Kb) 25 Nov 2022 Variation Response PDF (127.80 Kb) 25 Nov 2022 Variation Request PDF (151.10 Kb) 24 Nov 2022 Stakeholder Announcement PDF (186.30 Kb) 15 Sep 2022 Variation Response PDF (128.47 Kb) 13 Sep 2022 Variation Request PDF (150.46 Kb) 05 Sep 2022 Stakeholder Announcement: MEGVAR update PDF (561.25 Kb) 03 Nov 2020 Certificate Holder Forced and Child Labour Policies, Practices and Measures Template PDF (198.96 Kb) 28 Aug 2019 Variation Response PDF (2120.50 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Response PDF (2120.50 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Response PDF (2120.50 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Response PDF (2120.50 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Response PDF (2120.50 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Request PDF (322.62 Kb) 14 Feb 2019 Variation Response PDF (206.89 Kb) 18 Oct 2017 Variation Request PDF (320.61 Kb) 05 Oct 2017 Variation Response PDF (211.46 Kb) 12 Sep 2017 Variation Request PDF (288.79 Kb) 18 Aug 2017 Variation Request PDF (492.91 Kb) 18 Apr 2017 Variation Response PDF (191.19 Kb) 18 Apr 2017 -
Re-Assessment
(started 2016)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Public certification report and certificate issue
Documents Published on Files Public certification report 12 Dec 2017 1 files Public certification report announcement 12 Dec 2017 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Other document: P1 harmonisation pilot report PDF (876.30 Kb) 25 Aug 2016
Final assessment report and determination
Documents Published on Files Final report and determination 16 Nov 2017 1 files Final report and determination announcement 17 Nov 2017 1 files
Public review of the draft assessment report
Documents Published on Files Public comment draft report 28 Sep 2017 1 files Public comment draft report announcement 28 Sep 2017 1 files
Client and peer review
Documents Published on Files Proposed peer reviewers 24 Jan 2017 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Stakeholder Announcement: New info period PDF (158.28 Kb) 09 Jun 2017
Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation
Documents Published on Files Fishery announcement template 01 Sep 2016 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Response PDF (194.80 Kb) 21 Feb 2017 Stakeholder Announcement: Updated P1 harmonisation meeting announcement PDF (431.52 Kb) 07 Jul 2016 Other document: Stakeholder Notification: P1 harmonisation pilot report PDF (283.72 Kb) 25 Aug 2016 Other document: ICCAT Harmonisation Report PDF (1147.73 Kb) 24 Nov 2016 Variation Request PDF (542.42 Kb) 12 Jan 2017 Variation Response PDF (195.08 Kb) 12 Jan 2017 Variation Request PDF (539.96 Kb) 13 Feb 2017
Timeline Documents
Documents Published on Files Assessment timeline 18 Nov 2017 1 files Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation 14 Nov 2017 1 files
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2022)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 09 Dec 2022 1 files Surveillance report 10 Mar 2023 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Request PDF (234.88 Kb) 13 Feb 2023 Variation Response PDF (507.60 Kb) 20 Feb 2023 Stakeholder Announcement PDF (187.11 Kb) 22 Feb 2023
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2021)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 29 Oct 2021 1 files Surveillance report 26 Jan 2022 1 files
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2020)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 20 Jan 2020 1 files Surveillance report 17 Apr 2020 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Request PDF (141.23 Kb) 17 Mar 2020 Variation Response PDF (126.86 Kb) 24 Mar 2020
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2019)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 07 Jan 2019 1 files Surveillance report 05 Apr 2019 1 files
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Initial Assessment
(started 2009)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Public certification report and certificate issue
Documents Published on Files Public certification report 18 Jun 2010 1 files Public certification announcement 18 Jun 2010 1 files There was an objection accepted to the final report and determination for this fishery.
The Independent Adjudicator’s final decision is included in the Public Certification Report.
Please email standards@msc.org to request the documents related to this objection.
Final assessment report and determination
Documents Published on Files Final report and determination 25 May 2010 1 files Final report and determination announcement 25 May 2010 1 files
Public review of the draft assessment report
Documents Published on Files Public comment draft report 12 Mar 2010 1 files Public comment draft report announcement 12 Mar 2010 1 files
Information gathering, stakeholder meetings and scoring
Documents Published on Files Site visit announcement 19 Jun 2009 1 files
Defining the assessment tree
Documents Published on Files Assessment tree announcement 24 Apr 2009 1 files Assessment tree confirmation 30 Jun 2009 1 files
Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation
Documents Published on Files Stakeholder announcement 13 Mar 2009 1 files
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2016)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 01 Sep 2016 1 files Surveillance report 11 Jul 2017 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Request PDF (538.06 Kb) 15 Mar 2017 Variation Response PDF (195.51 Kb) 24 Mar 2017 Other document: 6th Surveillance Addendum PDF (875.42 Kb) 11 Jul 2017 Variation Request PDF (561.70 Kb) 08 Dec 2016 Variation Response PDF (184.61 Kb) 09 Dec 2016
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2015)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 30 Jul 2015 1 files Surveillance report 04 Feb 2016 1 files
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2014)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 22 May 2014 1 files Surveillance report 28 Oct 2014 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Request PDF (404.00 Kb) 22 May 2014 Variation Response PDF (188.58 Kb) 22 May 2014
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2013)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 19 Mar 2013 1 files Surveillance report 20 Jun 2013 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Stakeholder Announcement: Revised assessment team member PDF (27.45 Kb) 25 Apr 2013
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2012)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 17 Apr 2012 1 files Surveillance report 21 Jun 2012 1 files
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Surveillance Audit
(started 2011)
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Units of Certification
MSC UoC Number Species Gear type Ocean Area UoC-0154 Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Grappling And Wounding - Harpoons 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Ongoing surveillance
Documents Published on Files Surveillance audit announcement 28 Apr 2011 1 files Surveillance report 26 Jul 2011 1 files Other Documents File type Published on Variation Response PDF (70.92 Kb) 21 Mar 2013 Variation Request PDF (288.55 Kb) 21 Mar 2013
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