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Japanese MSC products reach 100
By Rupert Howes
The 100th Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelled fish product in Japanese stores has been announced this week.
80g packs of smoked salmon from the Alaska salmon fishery are now on sale at CO-OP NET stores. CO-OP NET is supplied by Matsuoka Suisan.
The 100th product comes during a period of what is said to be unparalleled growth in MSC eco-labelled product lines in Japan.
The first product in Japan was launched in July 2006. In October 2007, the number of products doubled overnight to 32.
In response to the rapidly-growing interest from Japanese consumers, fisheries and retailers, the MSC opened a Japanese office in Tokyo in May 2007, appointing Kozo Ishii as programme director for Japan.
Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC says: “This is great news. I’m delighted to see the interest in MSC eco-labelling taking of so well in Japan.
"Strong and growing interest from Japanese retailers and consumers provides tremendous opportunities for the growing number of MSC certified fisheries.
"Estimates suggest that up to 20% of Japanese fish imports are from fisheries either certified under the MSC standard or fisheries currently in assessment.”
Mr Masahiro Uchida from CO-OP NET adds: “We would like to promote the MSC to consumers and CO-OP members as a new approach on environmental protection and to support sustainable fisheries.
"To do so, we will disseminate information on the MSC to make consumers easily understand the meaning of the MSC logo.”
Mr Hiroyuki Kamosaku from Matsuoka Suisan comments: “As a company with MSC Chain of Custody certification, we would like to contribute to conserving fishery resources and the ocean environment by supplying sustainable seafood products.”
Mr Ishii says: “Since the opening of the MSC Japan office, the number of the MSC labelled products has increased about seven times in nearly one year.
"In addition to general merchandise stores, several food supermarkets have launched MSC-labelled products recently and some department stores have plans to start selling the MSC-labelled products.
"Therefore, I predict that the number will further increase in Japan. The fisheries under assessment for MSC certification such as such as Norwegian mackerel, Alaska flatfish, and Canadian and West Greenland shrimp fisheries include fisheries from which Japan imports a significant volume of seafood.
"If these fisheries are certified, I believe that MSC labelled products will dramatically increase in Japan.”
www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
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