Iceland to Document and Certify Responsible Fisheries

International Boston Seafood Show Presentation Says Specs Are Being Developed

BOSTON, Mass. (March 18, 2009) – Few nations are as dependent upon sustainable fisheries as Iceland is, making it of prime importance to harvest fish stocks responsibly and sustainably. Government and fishing industry officials from the North Atlantic nation traveled to the 2009 International Boston Seafood Show on Mar. 16 to outline its plans to document and certify responsible fisheries.

The presentation, to a full house of over 80 industry representatives, was moderated by Mr. Hjalmar W. Hannesson, the Icelandic Ambassador to the U.S. According to Dr. Sigurgeir Thorgeirsson, Permanent Secretary, The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, fishing represents seven percent of Iceland’s GDP, seven percent of its workforce (approximately 6,000 people), and 30 percent of the country’s total export value.

“Management and utilization of our natural resources is not an easy task as it is affected by unpredictable factors and complex biological interactions. Our actions are based on the best available knowledge of scientists, fishermen and fishing vessel operators. Marine research in Iceland is extensive, but more needs to be done, especially in relation to our knowledge of ecosystems,” Thorgeirsson said.

“The market demands products harvested in a sustainable manner. We rely and base our livelihood on natural resources,” Thorgeirsson added, “thus we need to hand our fisheries to the next generation in the same way we found them or better.”

Dr. Kristján Thórarinsson, Population Ecologist, Vice-Chair, The Fisheries Association of Iceland, detailed Iceland’s effort to document and communicate responsible fisheries and its plans to certify Icelandic fisheries.

“Starting in late 2006, we began to develop a program for documenting and communicating responsible fisheries in Iceland. It’s a tool kit that will assist supermarket procurement managers and other buyers to respond to environmental concerns.”

Plans for certification were first announced in fall 2008, at which time the Fisheries Association developed a logo to identify the Icelandic origin of the product. The logo, which symbolizes a clean sea, a school of fish and a stamp of approval, indicates product origin in Iceland from responsible fisheries and is beginning to be used in the market.

“We will seek certification of the fisheries through an independent, internationally-recognized and accredited third party certification organization to be named shortly after specifications are developed. It will confirm that our fisheries research and management is based upon generally accepted methodology. We anticipate certification of the first stocks will be in place by spring 2010, thus providing the market with confidence that our fisheries are well managed and harvested in a responsible manner,” Thorarinsson said.

Iceland is working to develop technical specifications based upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO) international guidelines for the ecolabeling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries.

“Sustainable use is key, we intend to keep our house in order with good fisheries management,” Thorarinsson said.