The Japanese Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Association’s scallop fishery has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Total catch in the fishing area covered by the certification in 2012 reached 410,000 metric tons, making it the world’s largest scallop fishery. Its biggest markets include Japan as well as southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.
The certified fishery comprises three certification units; spat collection, hanging cultivation (Suika-shiki) as well as seabed ranching and dredge cultivation (Keta-Ami). Hanging cultivation is conducted along the coast of Funka bay and in Lake Saroma.
Takehiro Sakuraba, chairman of the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Association, said to be proud of the fishery's certification.
"Our scallops have become internationally-known as one third of the whole catch in Hokkaido is exported," he said.
