BOOST FOR SUSTAINABLE SCOTTISH FISHERIES – Fishupdate.com

BOOST FOR SUSTAINABLE SCOTTISH FISHERIES Published:  20 May, 2009

The conservation work of Scotland’s fisheries will receive another timely boost tomorrow (Thursday).

Fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead will be in South Queensferry to launch the Marine Stewardship Council’s Scottish Fisheries Outreach Project.

The project will help Scottish fisheries achieve recognition for their sustainable fishing practices. Jointly funded by the Scottish government and MSC, the initiative will make it easier for Scottish fisheries to seek MSC certification, the gold standard of sustainability.

The outreach project will support fisheries from across Scotland, in particular inshore fisheries by helping remove the barriers to accreditation faced by smaller fisheries including a lack of information.

Scotland is a world-leader in this area with over half of Scottish fisheries by value are now MSC-certified or in the full assessment process. Scotland alone accounts for almost one in ten of certified fisheries worldwide.