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Eco label granted for swordfish caught off Florida on controversial longlines
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Day Boat Seafood of Lake Park, Fla., was given the distinct honor this past December as being certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for its swordfish catch. Now, some are questioning if the certification is accurate.
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The certification was the first for any fish in the world caught on ocean-surface longlines. Longlines can sometime stretch for 30 miles with hundreds of hooks on each line.
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If the MSC deems a company's fish or a consortium's fish to be sustainably caught, the catch is certified. MSC sets standards and grants its certification once an independent assessor determines they're met. With certification comes a blue-and-white sticker, or logo, that can be put on seafood packages and restaurant menus.
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The label is a marketing tool, and some consumers make purchase decisions based on it. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Whole Foods say it is their intention to someday carry MSC-certified fish, so a lot is at stake. The eastern Canadian longline swordfish industry, which sells mainly to the United States, is waiting for a decision on whether it will get an MSC label. The independent assessor reviewed the case recommended certification. An independent judge is reviewing objections by several advocacy groups and a decision is expected soon.
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The conservation groups are concerned about the impact of longlines on sea turtles, sharks and other bycatch, such as small swordfish, blue marlins and bluefin tuna. Leatherback turtles are listed as being in danger of extinction. Loggerheads are listed as threatened, likely to become endangered in the near future.
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