Certifier : 
Control Union (UK) Limited
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
22 Oct 2010
Certificate expires : 
07 Jun 2027

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-1556 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1546 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - pair seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1541 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls - pair trawls: Twin demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1540 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1549 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Single Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1550 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Twin Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1545 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1543 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - pair seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1547 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls - pair trawls: Twin demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1548 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1538 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Single Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1544 European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Twin Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2546 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2547 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - pair seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2542 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls - nephrops trawls: Single Nephrops trawl 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2543 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls - nephrops trawls: twin 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2544 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls: demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-2545 Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Trawls - Bottom trawls: twin demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1553 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1554 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - pair seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1551 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls - pair trawls: Twin demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1552 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1555 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Single Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1539 Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Twin Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1542 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - Danish seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1560 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Seine Nets - Boat or vessel seines - pair seines 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1558 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Trawls - Bottom trawls - pair trawls: Twin demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1559 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Demersal 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1561 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Single Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)
    UoC-1557 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Trawls - Bottom trawls: Twin Nephrop 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31244 (MEC-F-034)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) 2022 15,213
Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) 2022 4,310
European hake (Merluccius merluccius) 2022 2,398
European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 2022 2,146
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) 2022 10,640

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

Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

“Few fisheries in the world have reached the standard set by the Scottish haddock fleet,” says Claire Pescod of the MSC. The Scottish haddock fleet has long had an excellent reputation for sustainability, and this fishery has been certified since 2010. 

192 vessels target the bottom-feeding fish, which are found at depths of 40 to 200m mostly in the northern and central areas of the North Sea, but can range as far south as the Humber Estuary. Boats use demersal trawls and seines, either singly or in pairs, with pair seine gear being lighter than the equivalent trawl gear and generally reducing fuel costs. 

20 of the boats have trialled CCTV to help with monitoring catches, and the whole fleet has improved its gear to reduce bycatches of cod and spur dog. All nets are governed by the same mesh regulations, which require 120mm mesh cod-ends.

MSC-certified haddock makes up some 30-40% of the total Scottish catch. Some processors are prepared to pay up to 10% more for certified haddock, reflecting a growing customer demand.

“We wanted to offer our customers Scottish haddock and the fishery’s MSC certification gave us an assurance that in doing so, we would be helping to protect both the environment and the long-term livelihoods of Scottish fishing communities.”

- Ally Dingwall, Sainsbury’s

If you want to learn more about all current UK & Irish Fisheries’ journeys to certification, find out where to buy UK and Irish seafood with the blue fish, and get your hands on the latest mouth-watering recipes, visit the UK & Irish Fisheries Spotlight.

Market Information

The total Scottish haddock catch is more than 23,000 tonnes, worth around £26.6m. They are consumed domestically and in the rest of the UK, with some exported to Western Europe.