June 24, 2019 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has certified the U.S. Atlantic winter skate fishery in the Northwest Atlantic against its fisheries standard.
The assessment was requested by the Sustainable Fisheries Association, which includes Cape Ann Seafood Exchange, Inc.; Marder Trawling, Inc.; and Seatrade International. Carried about by assessment body MRAG Americas, Inc., the certification process was completed as part of a scope extension under the U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery certificate, MSC said.
“Congratulations to Sustainable Fisheries Association on achieving MSC certification for another well managed U.S. fishery,” said Brian Perkins, the regional director of the Americas for the MSC. “They have demonstrated their hard work in sustaining the skate fishery, and in meeting the MSC fisheries sustainability standard.”
John Whiteside, an attorney who represents the Sustainable Fisheries Association, said the certification will be effective until 2024, with routine annual audits conduction at various intervals within that timeframe to ensure continuous compliance with the MSC’s standard.