Assessment of the South African hake trawl fishery in its bid for Marine Stewardship Council accreditation
Project description
The South African Hake Trawl Fishery applied for the Marine Stewardship Council's international standard for well managed and sustainable fisheries in 2002. The fishery assessed was the deep water and inshore bottom-trawl fisheries for hake (Merluccius paradoxux and M. capensis, within the South African exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Hake constitutes the largest sector operating in South Africa (50%) and the trawl fisheries account for 90% of the hake caught. Trawling is divided between the deep-water trawl fishery taking the majority of the TAC, and an inshore trawl fishery.
The South African hake fishery was awarded certification in April 2004, and is now under annual surveillance for compliance with the conditions of certification.
Services provided by Cefas
Moody Marine Ltd was the certification body that assessed the fishery. Cefas provided one of 3 independent certifiers to provide expert guidance and management, specifically on:
- stock assessment procedures,
- interactions of the fishery with the affected ecosystem,
- the management regime governing the fishery.
Cefas is involved in the annual surveillance that monitors compliance with the conditions of certification.
