In previous years, the blue whiting fishery has held a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificate and been approved by the MarinTrust programme. In 2020, there was a continuing dispute over quota allocation of blue whiting resulting in annual catches well in excess of the science-based advice. As a result of the dispute and the catch exceeding recommended limits, the MSC certification of the blue whiting fisheries in the North Atlantic was suspended on 30 December 2020.
This fishery is relevant for Skretting Norway operations. As part of its procurement policy, Skretting Norway requires that the fishmeal and fish oil originating from whole fish must originate from MarinTrust approved fisheries. For Skretting and our customers, the loss of certification due to this dispute means a significant reduction in access to already scarce marine resources.
Commitments to sustainable fishing have been made by all coastal states involved in Northeast Atlantic fisheries through the adoption of the UN SDGs, in particular SDG 14: Life below water. Skretting has SDG related targets through responsible sourcing criteria of marine ingredients, and certification offers a credible and impartial tool to demonstrate that we meet the ambitions to contribute to a healthy planet for future generations. Loss of certification would reduce progress against SDG 14.