- 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
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.