New Zealand rock lobster fishing organization renews commitment to sustainable practices.
Friend of the Sea (FOS), the authoritative global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, today announced that it has renewed the certification held by CRAMAC 5, the rock lobster fishing organization in New Zealand. With this certification, CRAMAC 5 can display the Friend of the Sea eco-label.
“Sustainability in rock lobster fishing is an especially challenging process,” said Paolo Bray, Director of Friend of the Sea. “There are the usual requirements, but in the case of rock lobsters, a certified organization has to adhere to strict fishing quotas.” CRAMAC 5 has been certified by FOS continuously since 2013.
Officially known as the CRA 5 Rock Lobster Industry Association Incorporated, CRAMAC 5 is part of the broader New Zealand Rock Lobster Industry Council (NZRLIC). NZRLIC is a commercial stakeholder organization that serves in an umbrella capacity to represent the rock lobster industry in New Zealand. There are nine CRAMAC areas in total. The organizations deal with local and national aspects of the rock lobster industry and general issues.
Management of lobster fishing quotas is essential to sustainability. Rock lobsters are relatively rare and can easily be fished out of existence. In the case of CRAMAC 5, their quota fishery area extends from the western side of the Marlborough Sounds across to Cape Jackson and then southwards to Banks Peninsula.