Rockall haddock regains MSC label

Scotland’s sustainable seafood sector has received a boost after Rockall haddock regained certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard.

The fishery, located around 250 miles west of the Outer Hebrides, was originally certified in 2018 but suspended in 2022 after vessels were found to have entered protected areas containing vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The fishery subsequently joined the MSC Fishery Improvement Program and introduced measures designed to address the concerns.

“Rockall haddock’s certification is good news for the fishery, the wider industry and anyone who enjoys sustainable Scottish seafood,” said Lewis Tattersall, senior fisheries outreach manager for the UK and Ireland at the MSC.

“The fishery shows how the MSC’s Improvement Program can support industry-led fishery improvements.”

Improvements included greater access to vessel monitoring system data, helping vessels avoid closed areas, alongside strengthened fleet management and enhanced self-reporting procedures. Following the changes, independent assessors determined that the fishery had met the requirements for certification.

The certification is valid until 2031 and brings an additional 8,600 tonnes of certified haddock to the market. The timing coincides with the conclusion of Sustainable Seafood September, the MSC’s annual campaign promoting responsible fishing under the slogan ‘Buy Blue, Protect Dinner’.

Around 30 vessels land Rockall haddock at Ullapool, Scrabster, Kinlochbervie and Peterhead, supplying retailers and hospitality businesses across the UK.

The certification also returns Rockall haddock to the MSC programme alongside the certified North Sea haddock fishery on Scotland’s east coast.

The sector says the measures implemented will support continued improvements in monitoring, harvesting practices and protection of deep-sea ecosystems around Rockall.