Steve Hatton, the owner and skipper of the Q-Varl, the largest scalloper in the Manx fleet, recently became the first Isle of Man fisherman to achieve accreditation under the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS).
The Scheme was introduced in 2006 to provide reassurance to processors and their customers that the fish they are buying are coming from vessels operating to best environmental and quality assurance practice.
As more and more major retailers are demanding traceability to show customers that their seafood is sourced responsibly, the Scheme helps to raise awareness of the industry’s commitment to a sustainable future.
Presenting Steve with his certificate, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Phil Gawne MHK, said, "I am delighted that the Sea Fish Industry Authority have been able to certify the Q-Varl, and would like to congratulate Steve for being the first Manx vessel to achieve this.
"The Isle of Man has built a sound reputation for the innovative conservation measures introduced within the Territorial Sea in recent years; extending this good practice to our fishing vessels is a natural progression to this.
"It is my hope that over the next twelve months, our entire fleet will work towards accreditation, giving even greater reassurance to buyers of Manx fish and shellfish that they are buying the very best quality seafish, taken from well managed, sustainable resources."
Pictured (l-r): Seafish representative Mick Bacon, Steve Hatton, Danny Hatton, the Minister Phil Gawne MHK and Manx FPO Chief Executive Tom Bryan-Brown.
