More Sustainable Choices for UK Shoppers
Seth McCurry, MSC Senior Commercial Manager for the UK & Ireland, commented on the development: “The certification of this new fishery presents an opportunity to see more sustainable sardine choices in UK supermarkets. The Cornish sardine fishery has been the only certified source for a number of years, offering premium canned sardine products in retailers like Tesco and Aldi. With a new supply from Southern Europe, we could soon see more products with the blue MSC ecolabel on shelves.”
The Iberian sardine is a crucial resource for Portugal and Spain, with its presence stretching from the Bay of Biscay to the Strait of Gibraltar. In 2025, Portugal’s quota for Iberian sardines stands at 34,406 tonnes, while Spain’s is 17,332 tonnes. The Spanish fishing season commenced in March and is expected to continue until August or September. In Portugal, the season launched in April and typically concludes in November or December.
A Decade of Recovery and Collaboration
The Portuguese fleet previously held sustainable certification but had its MSC programme suspconcludeed in 2014 due to stock management challenges. Since then, significant improvements have been implemented. Notably, a new multi-annual management plan, valid until 2026, was jointly agreed upon by Portugal and Spain in 2021. This plan regulates annual catches, defines closed season periods, and sets limits on juvenile fishing, among other measures, to ensure sustainable and coordinated management of this shared resource.
In 2010, Portugal established the Sardine Monitoring Commission. This vital body brings toreceiveher scientists, managers, the fishing industest, and NGOs. The commission has played an instrumental role in the ongoing monitoring and adaptation of management measures, contributing decisively to the long-term recovery and conservation of sardine stocks.
Alberto Martin, Spain and Portugal Program Director for MSC, congratulated the achievement: “The fleet had to recover a stock that was in a very difficult state, and they revealed 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. 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.”
He added, “Furthermore, the fleet is now much better prepared to respond to alters in the stock and to ensure that sardines remain sustainable in the future. I hope the markets will now recognise and reward this ongoing commitment to sustainability.”
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