Certifier : 
DNV
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
30 Apr 2009
Certificate expires : 
30 Jan 2025

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-0017 Herring (Clupea harengus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-61406
    UoC-0016 Herring (Clupea harengus) Trawls - Midwater trawls 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-61406

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Herring (Clupea harengus) 2022 125,641

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 North Sea and Skagerrak herring was certified in April 2009 and recertified in July 2014. This pelagic (mid-water) species is distributed widely throughout the North Sea. This stock mainly feeds on plankton but occasionally eats small fish. The North Sea and Skagerrak herring is caught mainly by pelagic trawl and purse-seine (nets with lines that pull them together like a bag or purse).

On average about 86% of the herring is caught by purse seiners.

Market Information

The fishery’s catch is mainly exported within the EU.