The British Ports Association (BPA) and Seafish are working together to develop a Responsible Fishing Port Standard certification programme for UK fishing ports, with the aim of improving seafood transparency in the supply chain.
It’s hoped that the certification will provide assurance to seafood sellers and buyers that all certified or engaged fishing ports and auctions are acting in a responsible manner with the seafood landed and sold through the market.
Tom Pickerell, technical director, Seafish, said: As part of the scoping project, we will continue to work closely with the ports and supply chain to develop a set of objectives that this standard will achieve and establish how it will complement the existing Responsible Fishing Scheme to develop confidence in the auctions and fish markets for buyers and sellers.
The standard is likely to cover a range of areas including hygiene levels, quality maintenance, traceability, fish grading compliance, waste management and recycling, environmental controls and services such as electricity, ice and storage.
It will complement other standards recognising best practice within the industry including the Responsible Fishing Scheme, which has recently been redeveloped by Seafish to certify fishing vessels demonstrating best practise in catching methods and crew welfare.
But it is hoped this new standard will bridge the perceived traceability gap between the fish being landed and processed and boost the reputation of the sector.
It’s on the agenda for discussion at the next BPA’s Fishing Ports Group meeting in October, where a decision will be made on how to develop the scheme going forward.
Mercator Media Ltd 2015