Norway’s MSC certification for ling, tusk and lumpfish will be suspended due to unresolved conditions on harvest rules and bycatch data
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificates for Norwegian-caught ling (lange), tusk (brosme), and lumpfish (rognkjeks) will be officially suspended as of 20 July 2025, according to an announcement from Norges Fiskarlag.
The decision affects all fisheries for these species in ICES areas I, II, IV, and VI across all gear types. Specifically, ling and tusk in ICES areas I and II, and lumpfish in ICES areas I and II will lose their MSC certification status unless critical conditions are addressed.
Key MSC Conditions Not Met
Senior adviser Tor Bjørklund Larsen, who works on MSC certification on behalf of the Norwegian fishing industry, producer organisations, and the Norwegian Seafood Council, confirmed that while substantial progress has been made on many of the 13 conditions issued over one and a half certification periods, two crucial issues remain unresolved.
“Most requirements are already in place, but two areas have not progressed sufficiently to close the conditions before the 2025 deadline,” said Larsen.
The two outstanding conditions are:
1. Formal Harvest Control Rules for Ling and Tusk
While Norway’s Institute of Marine Research has made considerable efforts, ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) has not yet adopted formal harvest rules for these species. Though quotas are set based on the best available scientific advice, the MSC standard requires explicit harvest control rules, which are still lacking.
All three fisheries—ling, tusk, and lumpfish—have certification conditions requiring better documentation of non-commercial bycatch, particularly of seabirds. While indirect assessments of seabird bycatch exist, certifiers have stressed the absence of sufficient direct data.
Electronic Reporting Systems (ERS), now widely implemented in the Norwegian fleet, were meant to address this shortfall. However, according to Norges Fiskarlag, ERS has not yet generated the kind of usable data required for certification compliance.
Path to Recertification
To maintain or reinstate MSC certification, active use of ERS for recording non-commercial bycatch—especially seabirds and marine mammals—is now essential. This will require cooperation from the Directorate of Fisheries and software providers to ensure data is collected in a reliable and usable format.
Work is reportedly ongoing in this area, and Norges Fiskarlag has confirmed it will maintain close dialogue with the Institute of Marine Research regarding the development of formal harvest rules for ling and tusk.
“We are committed to fulfilling these conditions and securing the long-term sustainability recognition for these important fisheries,” said Larsen.