Certifier : 
DNV
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
09 Mar 2012
Certificate expires : 
09 Sep 2023

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-0576 Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31361 (F-DNV-112588)
    UoC-0578 Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31361 (F-DNV-112588)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) 2021 21,000

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 30 Nov 2021 1 files

About this Fishery

The fishery catches northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) also known as pink shrimp, deepwater prawn, deep-sea prawn, great northern prawn, crevette nordique and northern shrimp.


The fishery operates all year round, along the Norwegian coastline, up near Svalbard and in the Barents Sea where both small inshore vessels and larger ocean-going vessels catch around 20 000 tonnes annually.

The stock is shared with other nations but the Norwegian fleet, which comprises 89 vessels, catches around 30% of the total catch.

"Norway has for years been acknowledged as one of the world's leading nations in sustainable fisheries management. We are now pleased that MSC certification was obtained for Norwegian prawn fisheries as sustainably harvested. The MSC certification is an important tool in our marketing of Norwegian prawns and will help to strengthen our communication with our main markets."
- Ove Johansen, Marketing Manager, Norwegian Seafood Council

Market Information

Europe is the main market for Norwegian cold water prawns where both fresh and frozen prawns are sold in Sweden, the UK, Denmark, Finland, Italy and France.