A fishing boat heads out to sea in the Bay of Biscay.
Fishing fleets from Spain and Portugal have regained Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for the Iberian sardine fishery along the Atlantic coast, marking what the organisation describes as a “milestone” in cross-border collaboration for sustainable fishing.
This is the first time that a joint certification has been achieved by fleets from both countries. The MSC certification now confirms that the sardines caught by these purse seine fleets come from a fishery that meets internationally recognised standards for environmental sustainability.
The certificate covers 317 vessels in total, including 132 from Portugal and 185 from Spain. It also includes 15 fisheries producer organisations and three Portuguese industry associations involved in processing and distribution. The MSC stated that the achievement reflects the efforts of the entire value chain, from fishers to processors and retailers.
The Iberian sardine fishery spans a wide area, from the Bay of Biscay to the Strait of Gibraltar. In 2025, Portugal’s quota for sardine is set at 34,406 tonnes, while Spain’s allocation is 17,332 tonnes. The fishing season in Spain began in March and is expected to run until late summer, while the season in Portugal typically runs from April to the end of the year.
Portugal’s fleet previously held MSC certification, but it was suspended in 2014 due to stock management issues. The fishery has since implemented a number of reforms, including a joint fisheries management plan introduced by Spain and Portugal in 2021, which is valid until 2026. The plan outlines catch limits, closed seasons and restrictions on juvenile catch to support sustainable recovery.
A key part of this process has been Portugal’s Sardine Monitoring Commission, established in 2010. This group, made up of scientists, government representatives, industry and NGOs, has played an important role in adapting fisheries management strategies and overseeing the stock’s recovery, the MSC noted.
Alberto Martin, Spain and Portugal Programme Director for the MSC, congratulated the entire Spanish and Portuguese fleet for what he described as a “remarkable” achievement. “The fleet had to recover a stock that was in a very difficult state, and they showed great vision in doing so. This required significant sacrifices, such as reducing fishing effort, and the development of new tools including a management plan and precautionary catch control rules,” Martin stated via a press release.
“Thanks to these measures, the state of the sardine stock is now significantly better than it was 15 years ago, when the fishery was first certified. Furthermore, the fleet is now much better prepared to respond to changes in the stock and to ensure that sardines remain sustainable in the future. I hope the markets will now recognize and reward this ongoing commitment to sustainability," Martin added.
Organisations named in the certification include Portugal’s Association of Purse Seine Fishing Producers (ANOPERCO), Spanish fishing associations OPP Burela, Cantabrian OPPs and OPASTURIAS, as well as Portuguese associations representing the canned, frozen and fresh food sectors: the National Association of Canned Fish Industries (ANICP), the National Association of the Cold Chain Industry and Food Trade (ALIF) and the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED).
