Marine Eco-Label Japan Certifies Five Types of Fishing Operations in Kochi Prefecture

Copyright Kochi Prefecture

Two fishery organizations in Kochi Prefecture, Japan -- the Kochi Prefecture Marine Fisheries Cooperative and the Tosa Bonito Distribution Council -- obtained certification from Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL Japan) on October 6, 2011, for five fishing methods targeting three kinds of fish: bonito, alfonsino, and southern mackerel. This is the first time for an organization in the prefecture to obtain certification from MEL Japan, which allows them to display the Marine Eco-Label logo on their products.

MEL Japan is a labeling system established by the Japan Fisheries Association in December 2007 to certify Japanese commercial fishing operations that actively address the protection of marine resources and ecosystems. As of the end of October 2011, 13 types of fishing operations were certified, including the five new ones in Kochi Prefecture.

The newly certified fishing operations include one for bonito trolling; three for alfonsino fish (using driftlines, a handline with bait, and a handline with flies), and one for southern mackerel using vertical long lines. Since 2011, Kochi Prefecture has operated a program to promote branding of the prefecture's marine products, by subsidizing half the cost of obtaining certification from MEL Japan for marine fisheries cooperatives, distributors, and processors.

Marine Eco-Label Japan Certifies Two More Fisheries (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029339.html
'Marine Ecolabel Japan' to Start in 2008 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026893.html

Posted: 2012/04/06 06:00:15 AM