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Ling

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General

Ling

Ling, or common ling, is a species of the cod family and can be found in the north-western and north-eastern Atlantic Ocean. This species can be found at depths between 100 and 1000 m, but often swims no deeper than 300 metres. The ling is an elongated fish that can weigh up to 45 kg, can reach lengths of 1 – 2 m, and that can live up to 25 years of age.  

 

Ling

Molva molva
Origin

Iceland grounds (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Danish seine, Bottom trawls, Demersal longlines, Handlines and pole-lines, Gillnets

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Explanation assessment

The fishery on ling around Iceland is well documented. The fish stock is currently on its highest level, but the recruitment of young fish has strongly declined. This will result in the coming years in a decrease of the ling stock and catches.

In Iceland it is forbidden to discard bycatch. The amount of bycatch is low the ling fishery. All fisheries around the vulnerable cold-water corals around Iceland are pre-emptively forbidden.

Most Icelandic fisheries on ling have since 2015 been MSC-certifiedMSC Certified:
Fisheries that comply with the Marine Stewardship Council assessment criteria and are certified. Fish products with the blue MSC label are caught by sustainable fisheries.
. These fisheries use multiple methods; [bottom otter trawl], [Danish seine], [set longlines], handlinesHandlines and pole-lines:
A collective name for pole lines, jigs and troll lines. Hand lines and pole lines are used on a small scale most of the time and are relatively selective. unwanted by-catch have a high survival rate because they can be thrown back immediately.  
and GillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets.
. These methods have a lower impact on the ecosystem than traditional methods to catch ling, especially the [beam trawl]

The MSC certificate is only for the common ling, not for blue ling.

 

 

Ling

Molva molva
Origin

Iceland grounds (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Demersal longlines, Hooks and lines

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The fishery on ling around Iceland is well documented. The fish stock is currently on its highest level, but the recruitment of young fish has strongly declined. This will result in the coming years in a decrease of the ling stock and catches.

In Iceland it is forbidden to discard bycatch, but it is unclear whether this prohibition also applies to the ling fishery. [Discard] data of the ling fishery are not available. Longline fishery has little negative impact on the ecosystem, but all fisheries around the vulnerable cold-water corals around Iceland are pre-emptively forbidden.

The management of the ling fishery is largely effective.

 

Ling

Molva molva
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, north-east (FAO 27)
Deelgebieden: Barents sea

Farming- / Catch method

Bottom otter trawl

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The state of the ling stocks is unknown. Lings are vulnerable to [fishing pressure] because they reproduce slowly.

The [bottom otter trawl] is a fishing method with generally a high bycatch of undersizedUndersized fish:
Fish smaller than a prescribed minimum size. These sizes are determined per species and per country. For Europe, a minimum landing size applies to all EU Member States. 
and undesired species. [Discarding] is forbidden in Norway and Russia. Fishing with bottom otter trawls has an impact on the seabed and directly disturbs the life on the bottom. Research shows that intensive fishing leads on the long-term to a changed [species composition] in sea.

The management of ling is largely effective. A TACTAC:
Total Allowable Catch: catch limitations for commercially important fish species made by the Council of Fisheries Ministers on the basis of scientific advice. 
is set for the EU ships but it is structurally exceeded. The highest fishing pressure comes from the national Norwegian fleet, which is bound by the TAC.

 

Ling

Molva molva
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, north-east (FAO 27)
Deelgebieden: Barents sea

Farming- / Catch method

Demersal longlines, Hooks and lines

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The state of the ling stocks is unknown. Lings are vulnerable to [fishing pressure] because they reproduce slowly.

There is much bycatch in the longlineLongline:
Also known as line fishing. A fishing method in which lines and hooks are used.
fishery. Discarding is prohibited in Norway, and therefore the amount of fish that is thrown back into the sea is low. Longline fishery has little negative impact on the seabed and there are no long-term effects on the ecosystem. Unfortunately, there is also much bycatch of seabirds when the hooks are hanging at low depth.

The management of ling is largely effective. A TACTAC:
Total Allowable Catch: catch limitations for commercially important fish species made by the Council of Fisheries Ministers on the basis of scientific advice. 
is set for the EU ships but it is structurally exceeded. The highest fishing pressure comes from the national Norwegian fleet, which is bound by the TAC.

 

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.