Russian Far East Whitefish Supplier Roundtable March 15, 2015 Boston Agenda Welcome and introduction Overview of the status of Russian Far East (RFE) whitefish fisheries and improvement efforts Update: Longline cod and halibut fishery improvement project (FIP) Update: Russian pollock certifications and improvements Discussion about current needs of FIPs and improvement efforts Attendees SR Participants: High Liner Foods: Bill DiMento, Dmitry Bezruchko Gorton s/blue Water: Stuart Hudson, Bob Gilzinger Delmar: Daisuke Fukushi, Yuki Yoshimura Industry: The Fishin Co.: Justin Baugh, Logan Porter, Matt Brooker, Patty Bennett Espersen: Max Sorensen Interrybflot LLC: Alexey Bayguzhin, Oleg Simchuk Longline Fishery Association: Mikhail Zaytsev Pollock Catchers Association: Alexey Buglak SFP: Jim Cannon, Doug Beveridge Dave Martin Sam Grimley NGOs: New England Aquarium: Erin Taylor FishWise: Bill Wall FishChoice: Jessica Redmayne Key Points from the meeting: 1. The Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP is making steady progress. The Longline Fishery Association (LFA) will take over full leadership of the FIP in 2016, and also intends to enter full MSC assessment once sufficient observer data has been gathered. 2. Russian Sea of Okhotsk pollock successfully completed its first annual MSC surveillance audit, reporting progress on all conditions. The fishery also successfully completed a second MSC chain of custody audit. The Pollock Catchers Association (PCA) has developed
an improvement plan for the Navarinsky pollock fishery in the Western Bering Sea using the MSC Benchmarking and Tracking Tool. A workplan will be made publicly available around the time of the Brussels seafood show. 3. LFA reported on the work of the Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP jointly cosponsored with SFP. The FIP workplan tasks for 2014 were successfully completed. In particular, they include: Education of LFA fishing crew on matters and objectives of sustainable fisheries Development and pilot implementation of a system for collecting data on the fisheries habitat impact, including all types of bycatch Deployment of paired streamer lines on all of the LFA vessels in order to minimize incidental bycatch of marine birds and monitor streamer- line performance Collection of fish samples for genetic studies aimed at clarification of Pacific cod population structure. 4. There was no demonstrated interest from meeting attendees for launching a FIP for Russian trawl- caught Pacific cod, although this fishery seems to be an important source for North American and European retailers and suppliers. Meeting Notes: 1. Welcome and Overview (Dave Martin, SFP) a. See Background Materials section below 2. Update: Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP (Mikhail Zaytsev, Longline Fishery Association LFA) a. Overview of cod and halibut fisheries, LFA membership and quota ownership b. Review of FIP progress and improvements to date, including: i. Secure high- level governmental support for the FIP ii. Design (in conjunction with WWF Russia) and implementation of voluntary observer program iii. Workshops for LFA- member crews; development of marine bird and bycatch guides and logbook iv. Deployment of streamer lines on all LFA vessels; field testing of Mustad laser bird deterrent v. Launch of the LFA website c. 2015 FIP priorities i. Standardization of stock assessment methods and application of precautionary approach ii. Annual collection and analysis of data on fisheries impacts on habitat iii. Gathering of data and information that will be necessary for certification iv. Preliminary conversations with Conformity Assessment Bodies 3. Update: Russian pollock certification and improvements (Alexey Buglak, Pollock Catchers Association PCA) a. Overview of pollock fisheries, PCA membership and quota ownership
b. Key highlights from 2014: i. External review of harvest strategy and uncertainties ii. Observer program analysis and draft action plan iii. Literature review for information on Steller sea lion iv. Research on general ecosystem impacts of the fishery v. Report on bycatch estimates for the fishery vi. PCA members completed second MSC chain of custody audit c. Key plans for 2015: i. Independent international review of harvest strategy and stock assessment ii. Launch of observer training program iii. Ongoing research on sea birds and bycatch iv. Use of modeling to study ecosystem impacts from the fishery v. Members of the Russian Pollock Sustainability Alliance will meet in Brussels during the seafood show. An improvements plan will also be made public during the 2015 Brussels seafood show.
RFE Whitefish Supplier Roundtable Background Materials Sustainability Overview MSC Certified Russia Sea of Okhotsk pollock FIPS Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP SFP FIP Progress Rating: E (Negligible Progress) Based on recent activity this should change to A (Exceptional Progress) during next review SFP Priority new FIPs 1. RFE Pacific cod (trawl) 2. RFE Pollock Western Bering Sea/Navarinsky (Pollock Catchers Association recently announced that it has resumed its work on fishery improvement) Supplier Roundtable- level Improvement Needs Standardization of stock assessment and TAC estimation methodologies based on precautionary approach, including biological reference points (BRP) and harvest control rules (HCR). Transparency and public access to annual and historic series of stock assessment information and detailed total removal statistics. Impact assessment of fisheries on bycatch species and habitat, in particular on seabirds, marine mammals, and benthic habitats. Effective implementation of Russia s recently adopted National Plan of Actions to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate IUU Fishing (NPOA- IUU). Recommendations for Suppliers Become a stakeholder and support the Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP. Encourage the Pollock Catchers Association and Russian Pollock Sustainability Alliance members to formally launch a FIP and make public the recently announced three- year improvement workplan. Work with Russian trade partners to catalyze a FIP for Russian trawl- caught cod. Resources Russian Far East Whitefish Supplier Roundtable overview http://www.sustainablefish.org/fisheries- improvement/whitefish/russian- far- east- whitefish- roundtable/rfe- whitefish- supplier- roundtable Russian Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut Longline FIP overview FIP Public Report: http://www.sustainablefish.org/fisheries- improvement/whitefish/industry- led- fips/pacific- cod Longline Fishery Association website: http://www.longline.ru/index.php/en/
Russian pollock Russian Sea of Okhotsk pollock MSC info: http://www.msc.org/track- a- fishery/fisheries- in- the- program/certified/pacific/russia- sea- of- okhotsk- pollock Pollock Catchers Association website: http://pollock.ru/en/index.html SFP FIP Progress Rating Methodology: http://assets.fishsource.org/sfp+ratings+of+fip+progress+methodology+%28march+2015%29.pd f