- Certifier :
- LRQA (Seafood) Limited
- Certified status :
- Withdrawn
- Certified since :
- 13 Nov 2014
- Certificate expires :
- 12 Nov 2019
Overview
Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.
When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) | 2016 | 210 |
Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.
About this Fishery
Mediterranean and blue mussels are bivalve shellfish that thrive in a range of habitats. Mussels are anchored to a secure substrate, which include rocks, stones, gravel, shingle and dead shells.
These characteristics make mussels an ideal species for “catch and grow” fisheries. In the South East Algarve fishery, owned by Companhia de Pescarias do Algarve S.A. Portugal Atlantic, young wild mussels are collected in the local area, then settled to grow on ropes suspended from surface longlines or rafts in the open sea.
Harvesting the mussels is carried out either by hand or machine. The mussels are separated, washed and graded, either aboard the harvesting vessel or on shore. Small mussels may be returned to the sea for further growth.