Icelandic Cod-, Haddock- and Saithe fisheries re-certified

Icelandic Cod-, Haddock- and Saithe fisheries re-certified

4 February 2020
Icelandic Cod-, Haddock- and Saithe fisheries re-certified

On the 3rd of January 2020, an independent certification committee of Global Trust/SAI Global awarded re-certification to the Icelandic Cod-, Haddock- and Saithe fisheries. The certification demonstrates that the fisheries are managed in a responsible manner according to internationally recognised criteria and is a testament to the continued development of Icelandic fisheries. The certificate is valid for 5 years with annual surveillance assessments.

The certification is to the Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management Standard (IRFM, Version 2.0) The re-assessment was in accordance with the third party, ISO17065 accredited system of Global Trust Certification Ltd.  and provides a credible and independent certification of responsible fisheries management.

The assessment included a thorough review of the Icelandic fisheries management system including laws, regulations and operations; the Individual Transferable Quota system; data collection, research and stock assessment; enforcement activities and an assessment of the fisheries effects on the ecosystem. Overall, the assessment concluded that the management system and harvest control rules (HCR) adopted a precautionary approach, allowing for responsible harvesting and careful treatment of the wider ecosystem.

The quota (TAC) for the certified fisheries (Sept 2019 – August 2020) is:

Cod: 272.411 tonnes

Haddock 41.823 tonnes

Saithe: 80.588 tonnes

The certification reports for each fishery are posted on the IRF website

For further information, please contact:

Finnur Gardarsson, Managing director at IRF Foundation, finnur@irff.is