More information

Blue whiting

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
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Informatie over vissoort
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General

Cod-like fish

Cod-like fishes belong to the Gadidae family. This includes the Atlantic and Pacific cod, pouting, haddock, whiting, European pollock, Alaska pollock and saithe. They live near the seabed in coastal waters and in deeper waters. During the day, they aggregate in schools. At night, they separate to forage independently. Gadidae are omnivorous fish that feed on worms, molluscs, bivalves, crustaceans and small fish. They migrate over large distances to spawn and to hunt on large schools of herring and smelt.

 

 

Blue whiting

The blue whiting fishery is one of the largest fisheries in the world. However, since the majority of blue whiting is processed into surimi or fishmeal, it is seldom found in fish shops and stalls. This whiting can reach a maximum length of 50 cm and can weigh up to 830 grams. This species can be found at large depths of 150 m or more in the Northern Atlantic Ocean.

Blue whiting

Micromesistius poutassou
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic trawls, Midwater otter trawl

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Minder tonen Toon beoordeling
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The status of blue whiting stocks in the Northeast Atlantic is moderate. The stock is still at a sustainable level, but is declining. Fishing pressure is too high to rule out a further decline in the long term.

Fishing with midwater otter trawls has little bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species, although dolphins and other marine mammals are occasionally caught. Discards are low and the catch consists almost entirely of target species. Midwater trawls do not cause damage to the seabed and the impact on the ecosystem is limited. CO₂ emissions are low and the risk of ghost fishing is moderate.

Management is considered partially effective. Stocks are assessed annually and management is based on scientific advice, but agreed catch limits have been exceeded several times in recent years. Russia does not participate in joint management, while it fishes a significant proportion of the stock. There is no FIP for this fishery. Previous MSC certifications have all since been withdrawn.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.

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