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Norway has a long tradition of managing its fisheries in harmony with nature, and is internationally regarded by many organisations as a world leader in sustainable fisheries management.
Today, Thursday December 1 2011, the long term sustainable fishing practices and world-class management of Norwegian North East Artic cod and haddock fisheries is also recognised by Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. This latest MSC certification means that over three quarters of the catches from the entire Norwegian fishing fleet are MSC-certified.
Norway manages the largest sustainable cod stock in the world. For over several decades the Norwegian cod stock in Norway’s cold, clear waters has been intensively monitored and proactively managed, utilising scientific advice from the country’s best experts. The cod stock in the Barents Sea, where Norway captures about 93% of all its cod, is strong and the stock is growing. Following scientific advice through ICES, Norway has been able to increase its cod quota over the last few years. The catch quota for the North East Arctic Cod in the Barents Sea is 751 000 tonnes in 2012, of which 339 857 tonnes is the Norwegian quota. The catch quota for haddock is 318 000 MT, of which 153 235 is the Norwegian quota.
Karin Olsen of the Norwegian Seafood Export Council says: “We are very proud of Norway’s sustainability record and the MSC-certification of the whole fisheries of Norwegian North East Arctic cod and haddock is a great way to ensure even more credibility in the market place for Norwegian suppliers, as well as ultimately making it easier for consumers to make a sustainable choice by selecting Norwegian cod and haddock.
"The fishing industry is the backbone of coastal Norway and is of vital importance to settlement and employment. The successful management of fish stocks are an important part of Norway's rolling commitment to a sustainable future, and we will continue to work hard to ensure that future generations will have the pleasure to enjoy Norwegian cod and haddock.”
“Norway is a leading supplier of seafood globally, and it’s our commitment to manage our resources sustainably” says Ingrid Dahl Skarstein, environmental adviser at NSEC. “The combination of environmental responsibility and economically sustainable fisheries shows that the Norwegian management model is successful. Today this is also recognised by the MSC.”
Camiel Derichs, MSC Deputy Director Europe says: “This is a milestone for the MSC program, and a fantastic result for the collective Norwegian Seafood industry. Norwegian cod and haddock fisheries are among the most important whitefish fisheries in the world, from a market perspective as well as from a historic perspective.
"The famous Lofoten winter fisheries for cod date back to pre-Viking times, and modern fisheries science and management started in that area over two hundred years ago, when Norwegian scientists searching to explain yearly variation in the catches started to do research on cod in Norwegian waters. From these humble beginnings, fisheries science and management as we know it today branched out.”
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