SA hake accreditation safe for now

SA's deep-sea trawler-caught hake fishery's Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation - essential for SA to hold on to its R2‚8bn export market - is secure for now‚ despite "red flags" being raised‚ the council's Southern African office said on Friday, 13 July 2012.

16 Jul 2012

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

SA faced suspension this month after Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson suspended the MSC-required scientific observer programme to ensure the fishery's sustainability.

"The bottom line is that it remains certified‚ although the audit picked up certain things‚ such as the lapsed observer programme‚" MSC Southern Africa programme manager Martin Purves said.

The MSC‚ the industry and the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries were hoping to release a joint statement later on Friday‚ he said.

Tim Reddell‚ chairman of industry umbrella body Fish SA‚ said: "I'm not relieved‚ I'm ecstatic‚ but there is a whole lot of work that needs to be done."

Purves said four new conditions had been added to the previous eight conditions SA had to meet to keep its MSC accreditation. They included reinstating the observer programme and improving enforcement of rules and legislation aimed at maintaining the health of SA's fish stocks.

The report issued on Friday by Intertek Moody Marine‚ which MSC used as an independent third party‚ covered the period from March last year to this March‚ "so issues that came up since March (this year) will be picked up in the next audit and there are some red flags".

Source: I-Net Bridge

For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.

We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.

Go to: http://www.inet.co.za