19 Sep 2008 - Tokyo
- The Kyoto Danish Seine Fishery Federation
(KDSFF) snow crab and flathead flounder
fishery has been certified
under the Marine Stewardship Council standard
as a sustainable and well-managed fishery.
Although MSC eco-labelled
products are proving popular in Japan, this
is the first Japanese fishery to be certified.
WWF-Japan expects that KDSSF’s certification
will prompt a trend for MSC certification
among Japanese fisheries.
KDSFF Chairman, Mr.
Tetsuya Kawaguchi said: "KDSFF fishermen
have been taking measures including setting
of prohibited fishing areas and seasonal
closures to pass on the bountiful Kyoto
offshore sea to our descendents. With our
effort, the fish stocks are recovering.
I am very pleased because our effort is
verified by the MSC certification, and would
like to give my gratitude to all people
who gave support for this certification.
The certification is just a milestone. Our
objective is to pass on bountiful seas to
the future generations with implementation
of stock control and fishing ground management
of Kyoto offshore sustainably. As the MSC
certified fishery, we will continue to improve
the Danish Seine fishery with our love of
the Sea of Kyoto."
The KDSFF was established
in 1944 as a not for profit organisation
aimed at ensuring efficient fishery operations
and effective communication throughout the
fishery. It now has 15 member vessels. Commercial
fishing in the region dates back much further
- to the 1340s when fishers using hand-operated
versions of the modern Danish seine nets
started fishing for coastal flatfish.
Independent certifier
TQCSI determined that the fisheries had
met the criteria to be certified following
an extensive assessment by an expert team
including Japanese and international fisheries
scientists. This was followed by a peer
and stakeholder review process.
WWF-Japan and WWF-US
supported KDSFF with technical guidance
and secured part of the funding for the
certification process. "WWF-US congratulates
KDSFF on becoming certified, and looks forward
to working with the fishery to help it penetrate
new markets and harvest the benefits of
certification," said Meredith Lopuch,
deputy director of WWF-US's Sustainable
Seafood Initiative. "KDSFF is not only
receiving global recognition for their achievement,
but through their dedication to sustainable
fishing, its members are also in a good
position to sustain their fishing lifestyle
well into the future."”
Kozo Ishii, MSC's Programme
Director in Japan said: "The certification
is finally issued to KDSFF after the long
assessment period. Persons involved in this
certification had tried very hard for this
certification. As a result, the KDSFF became
the first Japanese fishery to be certified,
and also became the first fishery in Asia
to receive an MSC certificate. This is very
important step for the MSC, and I am sure
the certification leads to further expansion
of the MSC in Japan. Traceability certification
is already in place for this species and
I am sure that MSC eco-labelled domestic
-catch fishes will soon be available to
Japanese consumers who are increasingly
looking for the blue MSC eco-label"
Japanese supermarket,
Aeon - which launched its first MSC product
in 2006 - already plans to offer MSC eco-labelled
flathead flounder to its customers. Mr.
Yasuyuki Yamamoto of AEON TOPVALU Co., Ltd.
Said: "Aeon is actively promoting action
to provide sustainable seafood mainly through
our private brand 'TOPVALU Green Eye' products
together with our customers. Following the
first MSC certification of a Japanese fishery
with the effort of stakeholders, we will
make further effort to provide secured and
safe seafood sustainably to our customers."
Rupert Howes, Chief
Executive of the MSC said: "This certification
is a historic milestone - not only the first
Japanese fishery to achieve MSC certification
but also the first in Asia. I am personally
delighted to be able to congratulate the
KDSFF flat head flounder and snow crab fisheries
on their achievement. We very much hope
the leadership position taken by KDSFF will
inspire other Japanese fisheries to move
forward into the MSC assessment process
over the coming months. As demand, both
domestically within Japan, and in important
export markets, for credible, internationally
recognized third party certification and
labeling continues to grow, MSC certification
provides a growing range of market and business
opportunities that we hope the KDSFF fisheries
will be well placed to exploit."
As one of the world’s
biggest producers and importers of seafood,
Japan has an enormous responsibility vis-a-vis
sustainable fishing. Also from a consumer
perspective, an increase in the number of
eco-friendly products bearing the MSC logo,
both imported and domestically produced,
will give consumers a wider choice. WWF
expects that Japan’s first MSC certificate
will give momentum to preservation of the
marine environment and the sustainable use
of marine resources in Japan.
