Certifier : 
DNV
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
23 May 2017
Certificate expires : 
22 Nov 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-2330 Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) Hooks And Lines - Longlines: Longlines 21 (Atlantic, Northwest) MSC-F-31311 (F-DNV-240697)
    UoC-1374 Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) Trawls - Bottom trawls 21 (Atlantic, Northwest) MSC-F-31311 (F-DNV-240697)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) 2022 10,704

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 16 Mar 2022 1 files

About this Fishery

This fishery operates in Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait off West Greenland and has been in operation since the mid-1960s. The assessment covers trawlers and longlines in agreement with Sustainable Fisheries Greenland as per associated vessel list.

Fishing in the area is managed by the Government of Greenland, Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, who set the annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC). 

Enforcement by the Greenland Fishery License Control (GFLK) subjects the fishery to logbook obligations and an observer scheme. Mesh size for nets has a regulated minimum of 140 mm and discards are banned. 

The fishery is also subject to two move-on rules: if bycatch exceeds 10% and if corals or sponges are found in nets.

Market Information

About 25% of the catch is landed in Greenland where it is filleted and sold to European and Asian markets. The rest is exported frozen, primarily to Asia, partly as whole ungutted and partly as gutted and headed.