The Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine fishery was recommended for certification against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standard by the independent certification body, SAI Global. The recommendation means that both U.S. menhaden fisheries-the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico-have been recommended for MSC's rigorous sustainability certification.
"The recommendation for MSC certification for our Gulf of Mexico operations is a testament to the hard work we've put in over many years to conduct responsible operations," said Bret Scholtes, CEO of Omega Protein. "The fact that both of the nation's menhaden fisheries have now been recommended for MSC certification should assure customers and the public alike that our products meet the highest standards of sustainability."
The two participants in the Gulf menhaden fishery, Omega Protein and Daybrook Fisheries, jointly requested the evaluation of the fishery for MSC certification in 2017. "Sustainable fishing is important for both the environment and for the future of our business," said Scott Herbert, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Daybrook Fisheries. "MSC certification will help this fishery meet the demand for sustainable products, while continuing to be an economic engine here for years to come."
There will now be a 15 working day period in which registered stakeholders may submit formal objections to SAI Global's recommendation. If objections are received, they will be handled by an independent adjudicator.
In the report recommending certification, SAI Global praised the Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery for, among other things, extensive surveys and monitoring of the ecosystem and menhaden stock, a comprehensive fishery management plan, and a robust governance and policy framework. The report also noted that menhaden-specific conservation and management measures are in place, and menhaden biomass is well above single species threshold levels while fishing effort is well below the threshold.
The most recent benchmark stock assessment of Gulf menhaden, published in December 2018, found that the population is healthy and sustainably managed, and that the stock is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing.
