Control Union (UK) Limited Normandy and Jersey Lobster MSC Variation Request - Marine Stewardship Council
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Control Union (UK) Limited
Normandy and Jersey Lobster
MSC Variation Request
Control Union (UK) Limited
56 High Street, Lymington, Hampshire,
SO41 9AH, United Kingdom
Tel: 01590 613007 Fax: 01590 671573
Email: infofishuk@controlunion.com
Website: uk.controlunion.com
1 Marine Stewardship Council variation request
Table 1 – Variation request
1 Date submitted to MSC
5th May 2021 (resubmitted on 11th May 2021)
2 CAB
Control Union (UK) Limited
3 Fishery name and certificate number
Normandy and Jersey lobster - MSC-F-31279 / MSC-F-31278
4 Lead auditor or program manager
Mathias Deleau
5 Request prepared by
Mathias Deleau
6 Scheme requirement(s) for which variation requested
FCP 2.2 - 7.28.8 - The CAB shall undertake surveillance audits within 30 days prior to the anniversary date of
the certificate.
FCP 2.2 - 7.30.1 - The CAB shall announce the reassessment of a certified fishery no later than 90 days after
the 4th anniversary of the existing certificate.
GCR v.2.4.1 – 7.5.6 - The CAB shall issue fishery certificates with a maximum validity period of 5 years from
the issue date.
How many times has a variation for this requirement been accepted for the same assessment of the same
7
fishery?
0
CU MSC Variation Request Form v3.2 (25th September 2020) (based on MSC Variation Request Form - Fisheries v1.0) 2862VR01
Table 2 – Variation justification
1 Proposed variation
The CAB is requesting a 12-month extension of the certificate anniversary in order to postpone the upcoming
Year 4 Surveillance and Reassessment audits as the clients are currently experiencing difficulties in
resourcing due to repercussions of Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which impedes their ability
to hold these audits according to the surveillance schedule.
2 Additional time requested
Original deadline date Certificate anniversary – 1st June 2022
Modified deadline date requested 1st June 2023
Length of additional time requested 12 months
3 Justification
Due to outcome of Brexit, the Granville Bay Treaty which was the main regulatory framework element
between France and Jersey is now considered obsolete. While this new agreement and negotiations are
taking place, the clients have indicated to the CAB they must focus on maintaining their respective fleets at
sea and getting the necessary licensing agreed to allow fishermen to carry on their business and also continue
with access negotiations between Jersey and French waters. Due to Brexit and the escalating situation, this
process has become extremely lengthy and convoluted. With both French and Jersey fisheries agreeing that
priority must be given to resolve the immediate issues affecting the livelihood of the fishermen, which they
consider has to take precedence over the MSC process.
Following this request and after an internal consultation and discussion with the client, CU UK remains
confident that the fishery management is still operating as normal and that communications between the
parties (even if found difficult, as pointed by the client in their letter) are still ongoing and are sufficient to
maintain the management of this fishery at a level to remain in conformity with the MSC Standard and to
not trigger the expedited audit clause 7.29.1 of the FCP 2.2.
The client is requesting an extension of their certificate in order to postpone the main deadline of the MSC
process (of Year 4 and reassessment), where it is considered that negotiations would be concluded and the
fishery’s operations can regain some normality by this time. The client sees the MSC certification as an
important part of the fishery’s credentials and livelihood for which they have worked hard to obtain and are
seen as being jeopardised for factors outside of their control.
CU UK will closely monitor the evolution of the situation and the communications between parties to be sure
that the fishery remains in conformity.
Full details on the context as described by the client have been attached to the present VR (see below). This
was presented under the form of a letter that was directly addressed to CU UK asking us to formulate this
VR. Original letter and translation are attached with this submission.
4 Implications for assessment
If the request is accepted, the client will benefit from an extra 12 months to organise both the Year 4
surveillance and reassessment. Based on COVID derogation 6, the open conditions can benefit from a 12-
CU MSC Variation Request Form v3.2 (25th September 2020) (based on MSC Variation Request Form - Fisheries v1.0) 2862VR01month extension already and, based on the client statement (original and translated versions attached), data
collection and other requirements to close those condition are still ongoing but seem difficult to achieve as
per the current situation with Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
5 Mitigation of the implication for assessment
CU UK remains optimistic that a resolution will be found in the short term. However, while monitoring the
situation, if CU UK considers that the fishery becomes at risk of non-conformity against the MSC standard
(despite this variation request being granted), launching an Expedited Audit will be considered. Clients have
been made aware of the situation and of CU UK position as a certifier regarding this.
For this fishery, if the VR is granted and negotiations have concluded, CU UK would be looking at resuming
the assessment as soon as it is practicable. The current assessment timeline allows the Y4S surveillance to
take place until December (6 months period after anniversary). However, the fishery is also looking at
reassessment which must be announced within 90 days following the anniversary. Therefore, there is a
realistic chance the fisheries certificate will expire prior to the reassessment being completed. As stated
above, the client sees the MSC certification as an important part of the fishery’s credentials and livelihoods
depend on this certification for which they have worked hard to obtain. They consider a lapse in certification
for factors outside of their control a bitter blow coupled with the ongoing political upheaval and difficult
economic situation.
6 How many conditions does the fishery have and will their progress be affected (positive or negative)?
This fishery is still under FCR 1.3.
3 conditions – 1.1.2, 1.2.4 and 2.1.3. (all potentially benefiting from COVID derogation 6) – this VR will not
affect their progress as the milestones and completion deadlines have already been extended by 12 months
as a result of the aforementioned derogation. Based on discussion with the client, progress on conditions
will be maintain at a lower regime but sufficient enough to be able to achieve objectives at the next deadline.
7 What is the status of the current assessment?
The assessment should enter Year 4 Surveillance and the announcement of the reassessment. The current
certificate anniversary is the 1st of June.
8 Further comments
Please see letter from the client
9 If applicable, additional information added after MSC’s request
CU MSC Variation Request Form v3.2 (25th September 2020) (based on MSC Variation Request Form - Fisheries v1.0) 2862VR01Translation of the official letter sent by the CRPM to Control Union UK:
Sir
As a result of our previous exchanges, we would like to be able to exceptionally extend the
annual monitoring and renewal deadlines for the "Cotentin Lobster" and "Granville Bay Bulot"
(Whelk) fisheries certified "Sustainable Fishing MSC" in light of the Brexit context described
below.
Since January 1, 2021 and with the implementation of Brexit, the Normandy Regional Maritime
Fisheries Committee (CRPM) has faced many challenges, particularly in the shared waters of
Granville Bay, where lobsters and whelks from the two certified fisheries are caught.
We can list them and summarize them as follows:
• The so-called Granville Bay agreements are now obsolete and there is no longer a formal
legal framework at this stage that allows for continued exchanges between Normands
and Jersiais to manage and monitor resources.
• The direct exchanges between Jersey and Normandy are therefore very complicated, that
it to say impossible at the moment, while the French state, via Brussels manages the
situation with the State of Jersey via London: the resulting communication channels may
cause delays and legal uncertainties.
• The modalities of the implementation of Brexit on the Channel Islands lead the CRPM to
do everything possible to preserve the access of its nationals to the territorial waters of
the Channel Islands before the deadline of 30 April 2021 for vessels over 12 meters and
that of 30 June 2021 for others.
• This entails an exceptional burden for the CRPM officers in charge of helping the vessels
to collect and transmit their proofs of historical fishing in the affected areas, according to
constantly evolving standards and interpretations of London and Brussels.
• This overload of activities has a direct impact on the monitoring capacity of the two
fisheries on the part of the CRPM and the implementation of the action plans, although
the scientific monitoring programs are continuing, both on the French and Jersey side.
• Covid19 also came to significantly disrupt the year 2020, just after the 2 monitoring
audits (February 12 for lobster and March 10 for whelk) with the lockdown period, which
was reiterated this year, and therefore limiting scientific exchanges and follow-ups.
• After July 1, 2021, new management conditions and rules in the territorial waters of Jersey
could be defined.
• As of 1 July 2021, a significant but unknown number of Norman vessels may no longer
have access to the territorial waters of Jersey. This could involve a migration of activity in
Normandy waters, which would have to be taken into account when managing the fishing
effort on the resource.In the absence of a defined legal framework, there is no foreseen resumption of formal and structured exchanges between Normands and Jerseys until probably the end of 2021. Thus, in the face of this lack of visibility in our relations, we wish to benefit from an exceptional 12-month postponement of the various deadlines attached to the two certifications. - Postponement to 2022 for the annual follow-ups (year 4 / Cotentin Lobster and year 3 / Whelk of The Bay of Granville). Postponement of re-assessment audits to 2023 for the Cotentin Lobster and 2024 for the Granville Bay Bulot (Whelk). The Normandy CRPM remains convinced of the value of the certification procedures undertaken and is committed to taking the necessary steps to continue the "MSC Sustainable Fishing " certification program of the fisheries concerned, alongside the State of Jersey and Jersey Fishermen once the new formal relations between Jersey and Normandy have stabilized. This extension of deadlines would allow us to do so in the best possible way. Thank you in advance for sending this formal request to the MSC and keeping us updated about the outcome of this request. While waiting for their return, you will understand that it will not be possible for us to sign a contract on the various pieces of work ahead. Please accept, sir, the expression of our distinguished greetings. The President of CRPM Dimitri ROGOFF
Comité Régional des Pêches Maritimes
et des Elevages Marins de Normandie
A Cherbourg, le 21 avril 2021
CONTROL UNION
LYMINGTON OFFICE
56 High Street
Lymington
Hampshire
SO41 9AH
United Kingdom
N. Ref : E 20210420 001/CH/MD
Objet : Demande exceptionnelle de report des échéances /Audits de suivi annuel et de renouvellement
des pêcheries de « Homard du Cotentin » et de « Bulot de la Baie de Granville » certifiées « Pêche
Durable MSC »
A l’attention de Mathias DELEAU.
Monsieur,
A la suite de nos échanges antérieurs, nous souhaitons pouvoir exceptionnellement repousser
les échéances de suivi annuel et de renouvellement des pêcheries de « Homard du Cotentin »
et de « Bulot de la Baie de Granville » certifiées « Pêche Durable MSC », compte-tenu du
contexte Brexit que nous vous décrivons ci-après.
Depuis le 1er janvier 2021 et avec la mise en œuvre du Brexit, le Comité Régional des Pêches
Maritimes de Normandie doit faire face à de nombreuses difficultés, en particulier dans les
eaux partagées de la Baie de Granville, où sont pêchés les homards et bulots des deux
pêcheries certifiées.
Nous pouvons les énumérer et les résumer ainsi :
• Les accords dits de la Baie de Granville sont aujourd’hui caducs et il n’existe plus à ce
stade de cadre juridique formel qui permette la poursuite des échanges entre
Normands et Jersiais pour assurer la gestion des ressources et leur suivi.
CRPMEM de Normandie
Siège administratif : 9 quai Lawton Collins 50104 Cherbourg en Cotentin Cedex 02.33.44.35.82
contact@comite-peches-normandie.fr• Les échanges directs entre Jersey et la Normandie sont en conséquence très
compliqués, voire impossibles pour le moment, le temps que l’Etat français, via
Bruxelles gère la situation avec l’Etat de Jersey via Londres : ce circuit n’est pas sans
créer lenteurs et incertitudes juridiques.
• Les modalités de mise en œuvre du Brexit sur les Iles Anglo-Normandes conduisent
dans l’immédiat le CRPM à tout mettre en œuvre pour préserver les accès de ses
ressortissants aux eaux territoriales des îles anglo-normandes et ce, avant la date
butoir du 30 avril 2021 pour les navires de plus de 12 mètres et celle du 30 juin 2021
pour les autres.
• Cela implique une charge exceptionnelle pour les agents du CRPM en charge d’aider
les navires à récolter et transmettre leurs justificatifs d’antériorité de pêche dans les
zones concernées, selon des référentiels en permanente évolution au gré des
interprétations londoniennes et bruxelloises.
• Cette surcharge d’activités a des conséquences directes sur les capacités de suivi des
deux pêcheries de la part du CRPM et de mise en œuvre des plans d’action, même si
pour autant les programmes scientifiques de suivi se poursuivent, autant côté français
que jersiais.
• La Covid19 est aussi venue grandement perturber l’année 2020, juste après les 2 audits
de surveillance (12 février pour le homard et 10 mars pour le bulot) avec la période de
confinement, confinement réitéré cette année, en précisant que cela a limité les
échanges et les suivis scientifiques.
• Après le 1er juillet 2021, de nouvelles conditions et règles de gestion dans les eaux
territoriales jersiaises pourraient être définies.
• Au 1er juillet 2021, un nombre significatif mais inconnu à aujourd’hui, de navires
normands, pourrait ne plus avoir accès aux eaux territoriales jersiaises. Cela pourrait
impliquer un report d’activité dans les eaux normandes, qui serait à prendre en
considération en matière de gestion de l’effort de pêche sur la ressource.
En l’absence de cadre juridique défini, il n’est pas entrevu de reprise des échanges formels et
structurés entre Normands et Jersiais avant vraisemblablement la fin de l’année 2021.
Ainsi, face à ce manque de visibilité dans nos relations, nous souhaitons bénéficier d’un report
exceptionnel de 12 mois des différentes échéances attachées aux deux certifications. A
savoir :
• Report en 2022 des suivis annuels (année 4 / Homard du Cotentin et année 3 / Bulot
de la Baie de Granville).
• Report des audits de renouvellement en 2023 pour le Homard du Cotentin et 2024
pour le Bulot de la Baie de Granville.
Le CRPM de Normandie reste convaincu de l’intérêt des démarches de certification
entreprises et s’engage à entreprendre les démarches requises pour poursuivre le programme
de certification « Pêche Durable MSC » des pêcheries concernées, aux côtés de l’Etat de Jersey
et Pêcheurs de Jersey une fois stabilisées les nouvelles relations formelles entre Jersey et la
Normandie.
CRPMEM de Normandie
Siège administratif : 9 quai Lawton Collins 50104 Cherbourg en Cotentin Cedex 02.33.44.35.82
contact@comite-peches-normandie.frCe report d’échéances nous permettrait de le faire dans les meilleures dispositions.
Je vous remercie par avance de bien vouloir transmettre cette demande formelle aux
instances de MSC et de nous indiquer les suites qui pourront y être données.
Dans l’attente de leur retour, vous comprendrez qu’il ne nous sera pas possible de
contractualiser vos différentes interventions.
Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur, l’expression de nos salutations distinguées.
Le Président
Dimitri ROGOFF
Copies : Etat de Jersey / Jersey Fishermen Association / MSC France/ Conseil régional de Normandie /
Conseil départemental de la Manche
CRPMEM de Normandie
Siège administratif : 9 quai Lawton Collins 50104 Cherbourg en Cotentin Cedex 02.33.44.35.82
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