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Orkney Crab has become the first fishery globally to achieve certification under the Community Catch standard for small-scale fisheries, marking a milestone for responsible seafood sourcing and sustainability assurance.
Awarded by NSF, the certification recognises the Scottish fishery's environmental stewardship, responsible fishing practices and social compliance, while providing independent third-party verification for buyers seeking sustainably sourced seafood.
Developed to address the cost and complexity barriers often faced by smaller fishing operations, the Community Catch standard offers a framework tailored to community-based fisheries. The certification assesses fisheries against criteria covering environmental management, responsible fishing, labour rights due diligence, health and safety and social responsibility, drawing on guidance from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
According to the FAO, small-scale fisheries account for around 40% of global fish catches and employ more than 90% of the world's capture fishers, highlighting their importance to food security and coastal economies.
Dr Gemma Quilez-Badia, technical manager for food production at NSF, said: "Orkney Crab's achievement is an important milestone for NSF, Community Catch and small-scale fisheries around the world. It shows that robust environmental and social requirements can be applied in a practical way for community-based fisheries, giving buyers credible, independently verified assurance for responsible sourcing, delivering measurable benefits to marine ecosystems and coastal communities."
The Orkney Crab fleet is primarily made up of vessels measuring less than 10 metres in length and uses low-impact pot-fishing methods designed to minimise seabed disturbance and bycatch. The fishery also maintains catch sizes around 10% above the legal minimum to help support long-term stock health.
Orkney Crab processes more than 1,500 metric tonnes of brown crab each year, contributing over £6 million to the local economy. Its products are supplied to major UK retailers and exported to markets across Europe and beyond.
Paul Knight, managing director of Orkney Crab, said: "Community Catch certification provides independent verification of the responsible practices our fishermen have maintained for generations. This achievement strengthens our ability to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility to buyers and consumers who increasingly require verified credentials."
The certification comes as demand for independently verified sustainable seafood continues to increase, with retailers and foodservice operators placing greater emphasis on transparency and responsible sourcing across their supply chains.
Linda Wood, CEO of Community Catch, said: "Orkney Crab is a strong example of what Community Catch was designed to recognise: organised fishing communities, responsible fishing practices, committed processors and supply chain partners working together to demonstrate environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and due diligence on labour rights, health and safety."
She added that the certification demonstrates how the standard can provide a practical pathway for small-scale fisheries to validate responsible practices while supporting continuous improvement.