The KRAV fisheries system approves fish in two steps. In the first step, the application to open a fishery is approved. That involves a KRAV committee of experts, the fishing committee, evaluating whether the fishing will be carried out on stocks that are within biologically safe limits, whether the equipment is sufficiently selective and whether the target species contains abnormal levels of environmental toxins. The fishing committé must apply the precautionary principle when a population is assessed. The precautionary principle is a framework intended to prevent damaging impacts from human activity (for example fisheries) on in this case marine ecology. The framework means that fisheries management must value and take into consideration impact on the population and environment when deciding whether or not to allow a fishery.  The precautionary principle means that a fishery cannot cause a stock to reduce over the long-term.

In order to ensure that all supporting data are correct and that the process is transparent, the evaluation is sent out for consultation, together with a proposal on whether to grant or reject the application. The consultation is open for anybody to respond to.

On the basis of the fisheries committee’s evaluation and proposed decision and the responses obtained during the consultation process, the CEO of KRAV then takes a decision on whether or not to approve the fishery. This decision also specifies the equipment permitted for use and other conditions for approved fishing.

When a fishery has been approved, individual fishing vessels or a fishing company can apply for certification of its operations according to KRAV standards.

Fish stock evaluations and certification are both carried out in accordance with Chapter 17 of KRAV standards.

Future consultations regarding fish stock evaluations

If you would like to be informed about future consultations about new fisheries,  register your interest at fiske@krav.se.

Applications awaiting evaluation

KRAV has received the following applications on evaluation of fisheries, which will be dealt with by the fisheries committee:
  Fishing for cod around Greenland (NAFO 1 and ICES XIV2b)
  Fishing for blue mussels along the coast of Bohuslän
  Fishing for cod in the Baltic Sea
  Fishing for salmon trout, charr and whitefish in Fyresdalsvattnet, Norway
  Fishing for pike-perch, whitefish and vendace in Lake Vänern
  Fishing for krill in the Antarctic Ocean
 

Approved fisheries

For information on fisheries that have already been approved, click here and view the list to the right.

Fishing committee

Click here.
Chairperson = ordförande
Committee members = ledamöter
 

Go for KRAV-labelled fish and shellfish

KRAV-labelled fish and shellfish are an option for all those wanting to act for sustainable fishing. The amount of products on the market from KRAV-labelled fisheries is now increasing strongly. First there were prawns, then herring and then came KRAV-labelled frozen cod, haddock, saithe, cage-caught marine crayfish and a number of processed products in rapid succession.

The three leading concepts for KRAV-certified fishing are safe methods, sustainable stocks and traceability.

Safe methods means that the equipment used separates out fish of the wrong size and co-captured species other than the target species. This reduces the amount of fish caught by mistake and minimises the damage to other fish species, sea birds, dolphins and other marine animals. In addition, the fishing methods do not damage the sea bed or coral reefs.

Sustainability is ensured through KRAV-certified fishing being carried out on stocks that are sustainable in the long term and does not exceed the biological production capacity. For a fishery to be KRAV-approved, experts within e.g. fish biology,  environmental conservation, ethology, fishing methods and equipment development must decide whether the stocks will cope with fishing in the long term. 
Traceability means that the geographical position of the vessel can be determined, which means that it is possible to check that the vessel is only fishing approved stocks.

The fish are also caught using vessels meeting high specifications on minimising the environmental load from fuel, lubricants, hydraulic oil and hull paint.