FOOD CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL LTD Findhorn House, Dochfour Business Centre, Dochgarroch, Inverness, IV3 8GY, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1463 223 039 Fax: +44 (0) 1463 246 380 www.foodcertint.com MSC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES CERTIFICATION Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH Eastern Baltic cod Public Certification Report July 2011 Prepared For: Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH Prepared By: Food Certification International Ltd version 1.3 (06/01/11) FOOD CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL LTD Public Certification Report July 2011 Authors: P. Medley, F. Nimmo, S. Sverdrup-Jensen, A. Hervás, N. Pfeiffer Certification Body: Client: Food Certification International Ltd Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH Address: Address: Findhorn House 27472 Cuxhaven Dochfour Business Centre Germany Dochgarroch Inverness IV3 8GY Scotland, UK Name: Melissa McFadden Name: Jörg Petersen Tel: +44(0) 1463 223 039 Tel: +49 (4721) 64911 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.foodcertint.com MSC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES July 2011 Public Certification Report – Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH Eastern Baltic cod FOOD CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL LTD Contents Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................................................... i Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Report Structure ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Inspections & Consultations ......................................................................................................... 4 2. The Fishery .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 The Unit of Certification ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Rationale for Using Unit of Certification ............................................................................................... 6 2.2 Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH ........................................................ 6 2.2.1 Organisational Structure & Role ........................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Code of Conduct ................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Fishing Fleet & Fishing Method .................................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Otter Trawl ............................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3.2 Seine nets (fly shooting) ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Target species ............................................................................................................................. 11 2.4.1 Geographic Range ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 Lifecycle............................................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Catches & Landings ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.5.1 Landing patterns and trends ............................................................................................................... 13 2.5.2 Catching Areas and Landing ports....................................................................................................... 15 3. Target Stock Status & Harvest Controls (P1) ............................................................................ 18 3.1 Status of the Stock ...................................................................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Trends in stock biomass, recruitment and fishing mortality .............................................................. 18 3.1.2 Stock productivity and likelihood of recruitment overfishing ............................................................ 19 3.2 Reference Points ......................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.1 Fishing mortality-based reference points used for the management of the stock ............................ 21 3.3 Harvest Strategy ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.4 Harvest Control Rule and Tools .................................................................................................. 23 3.5 Information and Stock Assessment ............................................................................................ 24 3.5.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.2 Total Catch Data .................................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.3 Age, Length, Weight and Maturity Composition ................................................................................ 24 3.5.4 Abundance Indices .............................................................................................................................. 25 MSC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES July 2011 Public Certification Report – Erzeugergemeinschaft der Nord- und Ostseefischer GmbH Eastern Baltic cod FOOD CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL LTD 3.5.5 Other information ............................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.6 Stock Assessment Model .................................................................................................................... 25 4. Environmental Elements (P2) .................................................................................................. 27 4.1 Retained species ......................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.1 Otter trawl (demersal and midwater) ................................................................................................. 28 4.1.2 Seine nets (fly shooting) ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.2 Bycatch (including discarding) .................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Endangered, threatened or protected species (ETP) ................................................................. 29 4.4 Habitat ........................................................................................................................................ 30 4.5 Ecosystem impacts ..................................................................................................................... 32 5. Administrative context (P3) .................................................................................................... 34 5.1 Governance & Policy ................................................................................................................... 34 5.1.1 Legal & Customary Framework ........................................................................................................... 34 5.1.2 Consultation, Roles & Responsibilities ................................................................................................ 34 5.1.3 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 35 5.1.4 Incentives ............................................................................................................................................ 35 5.2 Fishery Specific Management System ........................................................................................ 36 5.2.1 Fishery specific objectives ................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.2 Compliance & enforcement ................................................................................................................ 36 5.2.3 Decision making & Dispute Resolution ............................................................................................... 37 5.2.4 Research Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.5 Management Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 37 6. Background to the Evaluation ...............................................................................................