Anchovies achieve sustainability certification – Fishupdate.com

CROATIAN purse seined anchovies have been hailed as the world’s first to obtain Friend of the Sea sustainability certification.

According to the certification body, some main retail chains in Europe and anchovy producers have requested Friend of the Sea certification of their anchovies sources.

While the Bay of Biscay fishery would not comply with Friend of the Sea criteria, as it is currently considered overexploited, other Mediterranean origins would. Among these, the Croatian fishery has been audited by an independent third party certification body and found to be compliant with Friend of the Sea sustainability standards.

“Mediterranean anchovies stocks are considered to be not overexploited. The traditional small purse seining fishing method (called ‘lampara’) does not impact the seabed and it is very selective,” comments Dr Paolo Bray, director of Friend of the Sea.

“FAO states in its 2005 Update on Discards that the fisheries for small pelagics generally have low discard rates because the schools tend to be monospecific and the fish tend to be of a similar size. Many small pelagic purse-seine fisheries are considered to have a zero discard rate.”

Sustainable anchovies from Croatia carrying the Friend of the Sea label can already be spotted on some retailers’ shelves in Europe.

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