The application had been filed by an international seafood leader requesting assessment of its longline fishery.

According to Friend of the Sea, audit authorisation was not provided because, given the current cod and haddock target stock status, the fishery stands "no chance" of being certified.

Atlantic cod and haddock are considered 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN Redlist, meaning they are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, the organisation contends.

Atlantic Cod is also considered overexploited or severely depleted by ICES 2007 in each ICES division. Haddock is considered overexploited in the Va ICES division, it added.

The longline fishery in the area catches approx. 36% of total Icelandic cod and haddock catch. Even though longlines are likely to be more selective than bottom trawling and do not cause unsustainable impact on the seabed, the longline fishery still represents one of the main causes of cod and haddock overexploitation, Friend of the Sea said.

“Most bottom trawled groundfish fisheries, such as hoki, hake, cod and pollock are overexploited. Consumers should not be mislead by sustainability claims until these stocks recover and lower impact fishing methods will be used,” said Dr Bray, director of Friend of the Sea.

“The audit will be authorised only if the cod and haddock stocks will recover. Friend of the Sea has suggested that the market leader company which failed certification instead applies for assessment of its farmed cod and haddock plants: they could represent a sustainable alternative, as long as they comply with FOS Criteria for Aquaculture.”

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