- Certifier :
- LRQA (Seafood) Limited
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 06 May 2015
- Certificate expires :
- 03 Nov 2025
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) | 2022 | 788 |
| Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) | 2022 | 7,688 |
| Saithe(=Pollock) (Pollachius virens) | 2022 | 474 |
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.
Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists
A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.
| Documents | Published on | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel List | 12 Dec 2022 | 1 files |
About this Fishery
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book
Greenland vessels target cod, haddock and saithe in the Barents Sea and the Northeast Atlantic. The cod stock in these waters is the largest stock in the world, and the fishery’s independent assessment reported that cod and haddock stocks, in particular, are in very good condition.
The fish are caught by three demersal trawler vessels – Sisimiut, Polar Princess and Ilivileq – over four months of the year. These large freezer trawlers are equipped with sorting grids to reduce catches of small fish. The fish are processed within hours on board.
The most vulnerable habitats, coral reefs and coral gardens in Norwegian and Russian waters have been mapped and are closed to demersal trawling, but the fishery is contributing to further research into seabed habitats.
Market Information
80% of Greenland's 12,000 tonnes annual cod, haddock and saithe catch from the Barents Sea is sold in the UK almost all of it as fillets.