Sourcing from Sustainable Fisheries...
GHA relies heavily on fishing in the North East Atlantic. Most of the fish processed by the company is sourced from Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway. Therefore it is important that these fisheries continue to maintain a sustainable and responsible management of the areas under their care. Each of these fisheries operates outside of the EU and do not suffer the depredations of large scale over-fishing that has caused Scottish waters and the North Sea to be depleted of fish.
In Iceland, the government works together with the International Council for the Regulation of the Seas (ICES) to protect the sustainability of its national fish stocks. The Marine Research Institute, the Directorate of Fisheries and the Fisheries Association of Iceland oversee the fisheries management system and within it the catch limitation system. These schemes regulate fishing in order to maintain the health and biodiversity of the Icelandic fisheries.
The trading link between Iceland and the Humber region of England is currently the largest trading relationship within seafood anywhere in the world and is an important insurance for the continued supply of North East Atlantic fish into Grimsby.
In the Faroe Islands responsibility for the local fisheries is governed by the Commercial Fisheries Act of 1994. This legislation ensures detailed regulations are implemented for commercial fisheries where the majority of fish is line caught.
The Faroese Fisheries Laboratory provides the Ministry of Fisheries and Natural Resources with scientific assessments and advice on the status and management of fish stocks and marine ecosystems around the Faroe Islands. This involves detailed scientific measurements and collaboration with commercial fishermen to assess the continued health of fish stocks. All research is guided by the International Council for the Regulation of the Seas.
Stock management is of paramount importance in Norway. For many years Norway has set the standards for the stock management of sustainable fisheries and the relationship and balance between fishing and biomass. In accordance with recommendations from ICES the Norwegian quota system represents one of the most stringent and comprehensive monitoring systems for fishing in existence today.
Guaranteeing that fish can be traced back to responsibly managed and sustainable fisheries is integral for the continued utility of the North Atlantic as a fisheries resource, while maintaining the abundance and biodiversity of the species that make this area of the world so special. As one of the biggest markets for sustainably fished haddock and cod Grimsby is a vital force in the promotion of environmentally responsible fishing. It is this rich supply of good quality, sustainably acquired fish that allows Grimsby Traditional Fish Smokers to maintain both their guarantee of excellent taste and their support for marine conservation.
GTFS Group