The Gulf of St Lawrence snow crab fishery has lost its international designation as environmentally sustainable, following the deaths of more than 12 North Atlantic right whales – two of the deaths in the area were attributable to snow crab gear.
The Marine Stewardship Council announced the suspension after an expedited audit of the fishery, stating it no longer meets the council’s standard when it comes to endangered, threatened and protected species. As a result of the MSC certificate suspension, when the 2018 fishery opens in April, the landings from crab fishing areas 12, 12E, 12F and 19, cannot be sold as MSC certified or bear the MSC label. As result, however, some crab-sellers may turn their attention to the Japanese market, which may not require the product to have the MSC certification. The fishery group has 90 days to submit a corrective action plan but a certifier would have to carry out another review with regards to having the suspension lifted.
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc recently introduced new rules that limit the amount of rope that can be left floating on the surface of the water when crab pots are set.
