[ST. JOHN'S, NL] — The province’s snow crab fishery is currently being assessed to become a part of the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification program.
If successful, Newfoundland and Labrador’s snow crab fishery will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel signifying the product is from a well-managed and sustainable source.
The assessment is being done by Intertek Moody Marine for the Association of Seafood Producers for crab captured by pots.
If successful in gaining MSC certification, crab from the province will be eligible to bear the ecolabel if the product is processed by a member company of ASP.
In an agreement to share the costs of the assesment, the ASP has agreed to allow all processors of snow crab in Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in the client group.
Snow crab season begins in the early spring, depending on ice and weather conditions.
Total landings of snow crab in recent years have been around 50,000 metric tonnes annually.
The province’s coldwater prawn fishery is already MSC certified.
