Devon grouping launch MSC move – Fishupdate.com

THE North Devon Fishermen’s Association are going ahead with a bid for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for Bristol Channel ray and bass.

John Butterwith, the chief executive of the association told FISHupdate.com that the move represented a key development for the association which is enjoying a membership expansion.

“This is a major move for this association and the process of pre-assessment will now get under way.

“This is being driven by the main buyers including Waitrose against the background that housewives are looking more and more to buy from sustainable fisheries.”

Mr Butterwith said the decision to go ahead with the certification processs had been made after a key meeting involving scheme assessors earlier this week.

He added that ray accounts for 50% of the annual catch of fish from the Bristol Channel while bass was a high value component of the mixed fishery.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.