Seafood you can trust, relationships you can value

December 2024 saw the launch of the Eastern Central North Sea (ECNS) offshore crab fishery improvement project (FIP).

 

Brown crab is an iconic British seafood, and an effective management of the resource is needed to ensure that consumers can continue to buy it for generations ahead. Brown crab is caught by pots, a selective harvest method which has low environmental impact and preserves the juvenile population, promoting replenishment of the population.  However, pressure on the resource needs to be managed; by sourcing from various fisheries around the UK and engaging with local stakeholders the Seafresh Group are actively promoting better management of our waters. One form of engagement has been contributing to the establishment of the ECNS FIP.

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We have partnered with harvesters, processors and retailers; bringing stakeholders together to first assess the available data on health of the stock and determine aspects of the fishery that need to be improved. Good fishery management requires the involvement of fishery scientists; in the UK CEFAS provide scientific advice to DEFRA  to make policy decisions. For the ECNS FIP this also requires collaboration with other country jurisdictions involved in the North Sea. The project also counts on the support of Seafish for technical advice. To view the stakeholders involved, pre-assessment report and action plan please visit the Shellfish Association of Great Britain website. 

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The MSC pre-assessment was completed in June 2024 and informed a 2-year work plan dedicated to improving the quality of stock data and developing adequate harvest control rules. The ultimate goal of the FIP is to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, ensuring high management standards are maintained to support the future health of the stock.