MSC Fisheries
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Norway North Sea demersal

Certifier : 
Global Trust Certification Ltd.
Certified status : 
Certified with Unit(s) in Assessment
Certified since : 
16 Jun 2008
Certificate expires : 
17 Jun 2024

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-1708 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1709 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Hooks And Lines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1710 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1707 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1732 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Traps - Pots 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1706 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1703 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1704 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Hooks And Lines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1705 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1702 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1731 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Traps - Pots 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1701 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-0050 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-0052 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Hooks And Lines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-0051 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-0049 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1729 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Traps - Pots 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-0048 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
  • In Assessment
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area
    UoC-3116 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3112 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3114 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3117 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3115 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3113 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Midwater trawls: Midwater trawl including purse seine 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3110 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3111 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3108 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3104 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3106 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3107 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3109 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Midwater trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3105 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Midwater trawls: Midwater trawl including purse seine 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3103 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3102 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3100 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3096 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3098 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3101 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls - shrimp trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3099 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3097 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Midwater trawls: Midwater trawl including purse seine 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3094 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
    UoC-3095 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Other: Bottom and midwater trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification) Certificate Code
    UoC-1698 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1700 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Hooks And Lines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1699 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1697 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1730 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Traps - Pots 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)
    UoC-1696 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Trawls - Bottom trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) Withdrawn MSC-F-31373 (F-DNV-60011)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) 2022 2,099
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) 2021 1,448
Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) 2022 19,368
European hake (Merluccius merluccius) 2022 1,873

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

Norway's North Sea saithe fishery was first MSC certified in 2008, alongside North East Arctic saithe. Both fisheries were recertified in 2013. 
 
North Sea saithe is found along the western coast of Norway in depths of up to 400m. Young saithe are mainly distributed inshore in sheltered bays and coastal waters along the west and south coast of Norway, the coast of Shetland and the coast of Scotland.

The Norwegian fishery at present accounts for 52% of the saithe stock’s total allowable catch (TAC). The fishery employs various methods and gear types. On average over the last 10 years about 85% of the Norwegian catch originates from bottom trawl, 9% from purse seine, 4% from gill net and 2% from other conventional gears (long line, Danish seine and hand line). Gill net fishing is most intense during winter and purse seine in the summer months, while the trawl fishery takes place more evenly all year around.

Both Norwegian saithe fisheries have undergone various improvements in practice since certification.

"Since the Norwegian saithe fisheries first engaged with the MSC program in 2006, several developments have taken place. Additional research on bottom impacts was conducted, and understanding of bycatch and interaction with endangered threatened and protected (ETP) species has further improved. The stock status of North Sea cod in the North Sea saithe fishery is also improving. As part of the current certification it is anticipated that such improvements will continue to be made. These developments are testament to the commitment from the Norwegian industry to assure sustainability in their fisheries."  - Camiel Derichs, MSC Regional Director Europe on the second certification of the Norwegian saithe fisheries. 

Market Information

Most saithe is exported - to West- and Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and South America.