Saving Seafood

Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery wins Marine Stewardship Council certification

October 17, 2019 — The menhaden fishery in the Gulf of Mexico has been granted Marine Stewardship Council certification, more than two years after Omega Protein and rival producer Daybrook Fisheries first applied for the review.

The fishery was recommended in June by independent auditor SAI Global, but several conservation groups filed objections and the harvesting companies had to work through an appeals process, Omega Protein, which is owned by Canada’s Cooke, explained.

“The Marine Stewardship Council is a global icon in seafood sustainability, and fisheries that are MSC certified are recognized as some of the best managed in the world,” Bret Scholtes, Omega Protein’s CEO, is quoted as saying in a statement. “Our fisheries have long operated according to sustainable practices, and this certification is just the latest recognition of it.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

MSC Recommends Certification for Gulf of Mexico Menhaden Fishery

June 6, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine fishery was recommened by independent certification body SAI Global for certification against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standard.

The two participants that requested to be evaluated for MSC certification are Omega Protein and Daybrook Fisheries. Omega Protein was recommended for MSC certification as an Atlantic menhaden fishery back in March.

“The recommendation for MSC certification for our Gulf of Mexico operations is a testament to the hard work we’ve put in over many years to conduct responsible operations,” said Bret Scholtes, CEO of Omega Protein. “The fact that both of the nation’s menhaden fisheries have now been recommended for MSC certification should assure customers and the public alike that our products meet the highest standards of sustainability.”

Fisheries must score a minimum of 60 out of 100 in 28 performance indicators in three categories; sustainability of the stock, efforts to minimize environmental impacts and effective management, to earn certification.

In its recommendation, SAI Global highlighted the menhaden fishery for its extensive surveys, monitoring for menhaden stock and the ecosystem, strong management plan and a robust governance and policy framework.

“Sustainable fishing is important for both the environment and for the future of our business,” said Scott Herbert, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Daybrook Fisheries. “MSC certification will help this fishery meet the demand for sustainable products, while continuing to be an economic engine here for years to come.”

A December 2018 benchmark stock assesment of the Gulf menhaden saw that the population is healthy and managed sustainably. The stock faced no overfishing as well.

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery gets MSC recommendation

June 5, 2019 — The Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine fishery has been recommended for certification against Marine Stewardship Council standards by SAI Global, Omega Protein announced 4 June.

The recommendation means that both U.S. menhaden fisheries – Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico – have gained recommendation for MSC certification. Omega Protein and Daybrook Fisheries, the two companies that participate in the Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery, requested the evaluation in 2017.

“The recommendation for MSC certification for our Gulf of Mexico operations is a testament to the hard work we’ve put in over many years to conduct responsible operations,” Omega Protein CEO Bret Scholtes said in a release. “The fact that both of the nation’s menhaden fisheries have now been recommended for MSC certification should assure customers and the public alike that our products meet the highest standards of sustainability.”

The Atlantic fishery was recommended for certification back in December, also from SAI Global.

The certification process hasn’t been without objections from competing groups such as recreational fishermen, whale watchers, and environmental nonprofits. The Atlantic fishery, in particular, has seen recreational groups formally object to the fishery gaining MSC certification.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery recommended for MSC; Atlantic hung up

June 5, 2019  — Now both of the US’ big purse seine menhaden fisheries have been recommended for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council, though how fast harvesters and processors are able to start carrying the label remains to be seen.

Omega Protein and Daybrook Fisheries, on Tuesday, announced that the menhaden fishery in the Gulf of Mexico has been recommended for MSC by the independent certification body SAI Global. Stakeholders now have 15 working days to submit formal objections to an independent adjudicator.

Houston, Texas-based Omega Protein, acquired by Canada’s Cooke in late 2017, and Daybrook, an Empire, Louisiana-based wholly owned subsidiary of South Africa’s Oceana Group, both source menhaden from the gulf and requested MSC certification in June 2017.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News