Hanus Hansen says MSC vital to Faroese saithe industry

MSC certification is crucial to the Faroese saithe industry because most of the fish is sold in Germany and France, Kringvarp Føroya reports. Hanus Hansen, chairman of the Shipowners Association, made the comments at the Fisheries Parliament in Klaksvík on Monday evening.

MSC certification has become central to the debate over a proposal by the fisheries minister to give boats in fishing group 5B more fishing days.

The Raw Fish Buyers Association has warned that granting additional fishing days outside the current management plan could put the certification at risk.

The association said most Faroese saithe is sold in Germany and France, where MSC certification is a basic requirement for market access and good prices.

However, fisheries minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen said he did not understand why giving group 5B boats more fishing days should affect the MSC certification of the Faroese saithe fishery.

The audio clips in the report were provided by Norðlýsið.