The forward-thinking initiative of a lobster fisherman on the UK island of Jersey and a collaborative group of Cornish sardine fishers have been rewarded with wins in two of the most prestigious categories at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK annual awards.

Ian Syvret, skipper of Bonne Peche, part of the 190-strong Normandy and Jersey lobster fishery, was named "Fishing Hero of the Year" for his efforts to ensure the commercial success of MSC-certified lobsters, while the "Ocean Leadership" award went to the Cornish Sardine Management Association (CSMA) for the initiative they showed with a new scheme to safeguard plentiful, sustainable catches for many years.

Determined to build on the achievement of the Normandy and Jersey lobster fishery becoming the first European MSC-certified lobster fishery in 2011, Syvret -- in close collaboration with the MSC and local merchants -- developed an elastic claw band that meets Consumer Ready Tamper Proof Packaging criteria.

This innovation enabled him to sell his sustainably caught lobster live with the blue MSC ecolabel in Jersey and abroad and has paved the way for other Jersey fishers to follow suit.

The future of the five centuries-old Cornish sardine industry looks set fair for many years and generations to come, thanks to the forward-looking actions of the CSMA, which represents a fleet of 15 vessels operating out of Newlyn, Mevagissey, Falmouth, and Plymouth. The fishery achieved MSC certification in 2010 and was recertified in 2017 and again in 2022

In 2023, the association initiated a self-sampling scheme that sees skippers submit detailed weekly catch data. This is shared with scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, providing them with key insights on stocks, size and age distribution as well as mortality rates and migration patterns.

Armed with this data, they can make well-informed decisions on catch limits, helping to prevent overfishing and secure the long-term future of the Cornish sardine population, the MSC said.

For more on the awards, click here.