MSC Full Assessment Reporting Template FCR v2.0 (16 th March 2015) MEC V1.1 (2nd October 2017) Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Public Comment Draft Report SFSAG Rockall haddock On behalf of Scottish Fisheries Sustainable Accreditation Group (SFSAG) Prepared by ME Certification Ltd May 2018 Authors: Dr Hugh Jones Dr Robin Cook Dr Jo Gascoigne Dr Geir Hønneland ME Certification Ltd 56 High Street, Lymington Hampshire SO41 9AH United Kingdom Tel: 01590 613007 Fax: 01590 671573 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.me-cert.com MSC Full Assessment Reporting Template FCR v2.0 (16 th March 2015) MEC V1.1 (2nd October 2017) Contents GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................. 3 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 6 2 AUTHORSHIP AND PEER REVIEWERS ................................................................................ 8 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHERY ....................................................................................... 10 3.1 Unit(s) of Assessment (UoA) and Scope of Certification Sought ........................... 10 3.1.1 UoA and Proposed Unit of Certification (UoC) .............................................................. 10 3.1.2 Final UoC(s) .................................................................................................................. 11 3.1.3 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Catch Data ............................................................... 11 3.1.4 Scope of Assessment in Relation to Enhanced Fisheries ............................................ 12 3.1.5 Scope of Assessment in Relation to Introduced Species Based Fisheries (ISBF) ....... 12 3.2 Overview of the fishery ......................................................................................... 13 3.2.1 The Client fishery .......................................................................................................... 13 3.2.2 Rockall ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.2.3 Gear and operation of the fishery.................................................................................. 16 3.2.4 Fishing areas and seasons ........................................................................................... 16 3.3 Principle One: Target Species Background ........................................................... 20 3.3.1 Life History .................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2 Fishery history at Rockall .............................................................................................. 20 3.3.3 The current fishery ........................................................................................................ 21 3.3.4 Stock assessment ......................................................................................................... 23 3.3.5 Stock trends .................................................................................................................. 23 3.3.6 Biological reference points ............................................................................................ 24 3.3.7 Management ................................................................................................................. 24 3.4 Principle Two: Ecosystem Background ................................................................. 26 3.4.1 Designation of species under Principle 2 ...................................................................... 26 3.4.2 Main bycatch species .................................................................................................... 27 3.4.3 ETP species .................................................................................................................. 31 3.4.4 Habitats ......................................................................................................................... 33 3.4.5 Rockall ecosystem ........................................................................................................ 47 3.5 Principle Three: Management System Background............................................... 52 3.5.1 Jurisdiction .................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.2 Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.3 Legal basis and management set-up ............................................................................ 52 3.5.4 Stakeholders and consultation processes .................................................................... 53 3.5.5 Resolution of disputes ................................................................................................... 54 3.5.6 Enforcement and compliance ........................................................................................ 55 3.5.7 Review of the management system .............................................................................. 57 4 EVALUATION PROCEDURE .............................................................................................. 58 4.1 Harmonised Fishery Assessment .......................................................................... 58 4.2 Previous assessments .......................................................................................... 58 4.3 Assessment Methodologies .................................................................................. 58 4.4 Evaluation Processes and Techniques ................................................................. 59 4.4.1 Site Visits ....................................................................................................................... 59 4.4.2 Evaluation Techniques .................................................................................................. 60 3143R04Q | ME Certification Ltd. 1 MSC Full Assessment Reporting Template FCR v2.0 (16 th March 2015) MEC V1.1 (2nd October 2017) 5 TRACEABILITY ............................................................................................................... 62 5.1 Eligibility Date ....................................................................................................... 62 5.2 Traceability within the Fishery ............................................................................... 62 5.3 Eligibility to Enter Further Chains of Custody ........................................................ 64 5.4 Eligibility of Inseparable or Practicably Inseparable (IPI) stock(s) to Enter Further Chains of Custody ........................................................................................................... 65 6 EVALUATION RESULTS ................................................................................................... 66 6.1 Principle Level Scores .......................................................................................... 66 6.2 Summary of PI Level Scores ................................................................................. 66 6.3 Summary of Conditions ......................................................................................... 67 6.4 Recommendations ................................................................................................ 68 6.5 Determination, Formal Conclusion and Agreement ............................................... 68 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 69 APPENDIX 1 SCORING AND RATIONALES ................................................................................. 74 Principle 1 Performance Indicator Scores and Rationale ................................................. 74 Principle 2 Performance Indicator Scores and Rationale ................................................. 87 Principle 3 Performance Indicator Scores and Rationale ............................................... 139 APPENDIX 2 CONDITIONS .................................................................................................... 162 Appendix 2.1 Marine Scotland Support .......................................................................... 169 APPENDIX 3 PEER REVIEW REPORTS ................................................................................... 171 Peer Review 1 ............................................................................................................... 171 Peer Review 2 ............................................................................................................... 204 APPENDIX 4 STAKEHOLDER SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................ 212 APPENDIX 5 SURVEILLANCE FREQUENCY ............................................................................. 213 APPENDIX 6 OBJECTIONS PROCESS ..................................................................................... 214 APPENDIX 7 HADDOCK BOX COMPLIANCE ............................................................................ 215 APPENDIX 8 SFSAG VOLUNTARY MOVE-ON RULE ................................................................. 216 3143R04Q | ME Certification Ltd. 2 MSC Full Assessment Reporting Template FCR v2.0 (16 th March 2015) MEC V1.1 (2nd October 2017) Glossary Term / acronym Definition AIS Automatic Identification