FOOD CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Findhorn House, Dochfour Business Centre, Dochgarroch, Inverness, IV3 8GY, Scotland, UK Tel: 00 44 (0) 1463 223 039 Fax: 00 44 (0) 1463 246 380 www.foodcertint.com MSC Sustainable Fisheries Certification Public Comment Draft Report for the Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group (IPSG) Western mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ) pelagic trawl fishery JUNE 2009 prepared for: Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group (IPSG) by: Food Certification International Ltd A company incorporated in Scotland No SC313289. Registered address as above IPSG Western mackerel pelagic trawl fishery June 2009 Authors: T. Southall, P. Medley, N. Pfeiffer, M. Gill, M. McFadden Certification Body: Client Contact: Food Certification International Ltd Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group Findhorn House Bruach na Mara Dochfour Business Centre St Catherine’s Road Dochgarroch Killybegs Inverness Co. Donegal Scotland Eire IV3 8GY UK T: +44(0) 1463 223 039 T: +353 74 973 1089 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.foodcertint.com W: www.kfo.ie Food Certification International Public Comment Draft Report IPSG Western mackerel pelagic trawl fishery Contents 1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Scope. .............................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Report structure...............................................................................................................................................1 1.3 Inspections & Consultations ............................................................................................................................1 2. The fishery............................................................................................................................................................3 2.1 The unit of certification ....................................................................................................................................3 2.2 The Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group.............................................................................................................3 2.3 Fishing Fleet & Fishing Method.......................................................................................................................4 2.4 Target species .................................................................................................................................................6 2.5 Catches and landings ......................................................................................................................................8 3. Target stock status & harvest controls (P1)....................................................................................................10 3.1 Status of the Stock ........................................................................................................................................10 3.2 Reference Points ...........................................................................................................................................11 3.3 Rebuilding Status ..........................................................................................................................................12 3.4 Harvest Strategy............................................................................................................................................12 3.5 Harvest Control Rule and Tools.....................................................................................................................14 3.6 Information and Monitoring............................................................................................................................15 3.7 Stock Assessment .........................................................................................................................................19 4. Environmental elements (P2)............................................................................................................................21 4.1 Slipping..........................................................................................................................................................21 4.2 Discarding......................................................................................................................................................22 4.3 Habitat ...........................................................................................................................................................23 4.4 Ecosystem impacts........................................................................................................................................23 4.5 Endangered, threatened and protected species (ETP) .................................................................................24 5. Administrative context (P3) ..............................................................................................................................25 5.1 Legislation .....................................................................................................................................................25 5.2 Roles & Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................26 5.3 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance.............................................................................................................27 5.4 Compliance....................................................................................................................................................28 5.5 Dispute resolution..........................................................................................................................................29 6. Background to the evaluation .........................................................................................................................30 6.1 Assessment team ..........................................................................................................................................30 6.2 Public consultation.........................................................................................................................................31 6.3 Stakeholder consultation ...............................................................................................................................32 6.4 Interview programme.....................................................................................................................................32 6.5 Other certification evaluations and harmonisation.........................................................................................33 6.6 Information sources used ..............................................................................................................................33 7. Scoring...............................................................................................................................................................35 7.1Scoring Methodology......................................................................................................................................35 7.2 Scoring ..........................................................................................................................................................37 8. Certification recommendation..........................................................................................................................40 8.1 Overall Scores ...............................................................................................................................................40 8.2 Limit of Identification of Landings ..................................................................................................................40 8.3 Conditions......................................................................................................................................................40 8.4 Recommendations.........................................................................................................................................43 Food Certification International Public Comment Draft Report IPSG Western mackerel pelagic trawl fishery 9. Applicant’s agreement to conditions...............................................................................................................45 Appendix 1 – MSC Ps & Cs ...................................................................................................................................46 Principle 1............................................................................................................................................................46 Principle 2............................................................................................................................................................47 Principle 3............................................................................................................................................................47 Appendix 2 – References ......................................................................................................................................49 Appendix 3 – Assessment Tree / Scoring sheets ...............................................................................................53