SPFA takes its sustainability responsibilities seriously and is a member of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group which has driven forward a number of sustainability and responsible fishing initiatives since it was established in 2007. These include MSC Certification of four fisheries; North Sea herring, Western mackerel, Atlanto Scandian herring, and West of Scotland herring. Scottish pelagic
fishermen are amongst the most heavily regulated in Europe, working under the full spectrum of controls which include quota allocations, designated landing ports, restrictive licensing, closed areas and satellite monitoring. The Association works closely with the Scottish and UK governments and the European Commission to represent members’ interests and ensure that they are able to participate equitably in international fisheries. Through its connections with organisations such as the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), North East Fishermen’s Training Association (NEFTA), Shetland Fisheries Training Association (SFTA) and Seafood Scotland the Association ensures there remains strong emphasis on safety at sea, fishermen’s training and catch quality. The Pelagic Regional Advisory Committee was formed in 2005 to give advice on the management of pelagic fisheries to the European Commission and the SPFA holds a seat on its executive committee.
