Food Certification International Ltd Findhorn House Dochfour Business Centre Dochgarroch Inverness IV3 8GY United Kingdom T: +44(0)1463 223 039 F: +44(0)1463 246 380 www.foodcertint.com MSC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES CERTIFICATION Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea Herring Fishery Final Report May 2014 Prepared For: Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Prepared By: Food Certification International Ltd Food Certification International Final Report Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea Herring Fishery Final Report June 2014 Authors: T. Southall, P. Medley, C. Leiper & N. Pfeiffer Certification Body: Client: Food Certification International Ltd Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Address: Address: Findhorn House The Harbour, Dochfour Business Centre Kilkeel, Dochgarroch Co. Down, Inverness IV3 8GY Northern Ireland Scotland, UK BT34 4AX Name: Fisheries Department Name: Alan McCulla OBE Tel: +44(0) 1463 223 039 Tel: +44 (0)28 4176 2855 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.foodcertint.com i version 2.0(01/06/13) Food Certification International Final Report Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea Herring Fishery Contents Glossary ........................................................................................................................................... iv 1. Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 2. Authorship and Peer Reviewers .................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Assessment Team .................................................................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Peer Reviewers ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 RBF Training ......................................................................................................................... 6 3. Description of the Fishery ............................................................................................................ 7 3.1 Unit(s) of Certification and scope of certification sought ......................................................... 7 3.1.1 Scope of Assessment in Relation to Introduced Species Based Fisheries (ISBF) ................ 7 3.1.2 Scope of Assessment in Relation to Enhanced Fisheries ..................................................... 7 3.2 Overview of the fishery ............................................................................................................ 8 3.2.1 Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) ........................................................ 8 3.3 Principle One: Target Species Background .......................................................................... 23 3.3.1 Stock Definition .................................................................................................................... 23 3.3.2 Inseparable or Practicably Inseparable (IPI) Stocks ............................................................ 26 3.3.3 Stock Status and Reference Points ..................................................................................... 27 3.3.4 Key Trophic Level Reference Point (PI 1.1.2d).................................................................... 28 3.3.5 Harvest Strategy and HCR .................................................................................................. 30 3.3.6 Data and Stock Assessment ................................................................................................ 30 3.4 Principle Two: Ecosystem Background ................................................................................. 34 3.4.1 Retained catch ..................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.2 Bycatch species ................................................................................................................... 35 3.4.3 Endangered, Threatened and Protected species interactions (ETP) .................................. 36 3.4.4 Habitat impacts .................................................................................................................... 38 3.4.5 Ecosystem impacts .............................................................................................................. 40 3.5 Principle Three: Management System Background.............................................................. 41 3.5.1 Description of the Management System. ............................................................................. 41 3.5.2 Isle of Man ............................................................................................................................ 42 3.5.3 Decision-making Processes ................................................................................................. 42 3.5.4 Fisheries Specific Management ........................................................................................... 43 4. Evaluation Procedure ................................................................................................................. 44 4.1 Harmonised Fishery Assessment ......................................................................................... 44 4.1.1 Harmonisation Details .......................................................................................................... 44 4.2 Previous assessments .......................................................................................................... 44 4.3 Assessment Methodologies .................................................................................................. 44 4.3.1 Assessment Tree ................................................................................................................. 44 4.4 Evaluation Processes and Techniques ................................................................................. 44 4.4.1 Site Visits.............................................................................................................................. 44 ii version 2.0(01/06/13) Food Certification International Final Report Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea Herring Fishery 4.4.2 Consultations ....................................................................................................................... 46 4.4.3 Evaluation Techniques ........................................................................................................ 49 4.4.4 RBF Use ............................................................................................................................... 50 5. Traceability .................................................................................................................................. 52 5.1 Eligibility Date ........................................................................................................................ 52 5.2 Traceability within the Fishery ............................................................................................... 52 5.2.1 Description of Tracking, Tracing and Segregation Systems within the Fishery and Management systems in place relating to Traceability ................................................................. 52 5.2.2 Evaluation of Risk of Vessels Fishing Outside of UoC ........................................................ 52 5.2.3 Risk of Substitution of Mixing Certified / Non-Certified Catch prior to point of landing ........ 53 5.2.4 At-Sea Processing ............................................................................................................... 53 5.2.5 Trans-Shipment .................................................................................................................... 53 5.2.6 Robustness of management systems relating to traceability ............................................... 53 5.3 Eligibility to Enter Further Chains of Custody ....................................................................... 53 5.3.1 Eligible points of landing ...................................................................................................... 54 5.3.2 Parties eligible to use the fishery certificate ......................................................................... 54 5.4 Eligibility of Inseparable or Practically Inseparable (IPI) stock(s) to Enter Further Chains of Custody ............................................................................................................................................. 54 6. Evaluation Results ...................................................................................................................... 55 6.1 Principle Level Scores ........................................................................................................... 55 6.2 Summary of Scores ............................................................................................................... 55 6.3 Summary of Conditions ......................................................................................................... 56 6.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 56 6.4 Determination, Formal Conclusion and Agreement .................................................................... 57 7. References