NSFC

Only from the North Sea

The North Sea Fish Center Trademark guarantees that the plaice has been caught in the North Sea. A clean and food-rich sea, important maternity ward for flatfish and traditionally particularly suited to fishing. The North Sea is sustainably exploited, it is the most managed and most researched sea in the world. Fishers with the Trademark actively participate in the Flatfish Improvement Program. This means that the lowest possible percentage of the quota will be fished during spawning.

100% Plaice

Plaice with the North Sea Fish Center Trademark is 100% plaice. Through continual improvements to fishing tackle, only the best quality plaice is pulled up from the North Sea, with a minimal ‘by-catch’. Only fishers that are RFS/CVV certified and demonstrably active in durable fishing technique programs are considered for the Trademark. They work closely with the industry, trade and sales channels to guard the high quality.

Sustainable fishery

The North Sea plaice stock is currently (far) above the biological minimum of 230.000 tonnes; the level biologists have set asa precautionary threshold. With numerous innovative developments, the North Sea Fishery is become increasingly sustainable, thus more efficient and more effective. The use of sustainable fishing techniques is a condition to maintain the natural habitat of the flatfish and to improve wherever possible.

Guarantee of quality

Plaice with the North Sea Fish Center Trademark must meet a large number of quality requirements, from the catching to processing. It concerns a pure and honest product. Alongside the Trademark, a system of assurancehas been developed, to control and guarantee the specific quality criteria. That criterion is strictly maintained by a watertight system of controls and by all recognised partners in the market, so that the quality of the place and its derivatives can be guaranteed.

Fresh is fresh

Plaice with the North Sea Fish Center Trademark is daily, fresh fish, with few food miles. It is caught close to the market, responsibly and without contaminants, like toxicants and antibiotics. Through quick landing and optimal distribution, freshness is guaranteed. Only fresh fish of quality E and A, that has been correctly stripped and optimally iced, is considered for the Trademark. Wild-caught North Sea fish is qualitatively superior to any cultivated fish.

North Sea Fish Center Plaice

The North Sea Fish Centre (NSFC) was founded with support from the Ministry of Economics, Agriculture & Innovation and the European Union. The NSFC’s objective is to improve the perspective for sustainable fishing through the development, introduction and safeguarding of a sustainable standard for North Sea fish.
The aim is to achieve this through the development of a quality hallmark for, in the first instance, plaice caught in the North Sea. Sustainable fishing forms an integral part of this hallmark. The hallmark specifically emphasises a guaranteed origin (North Sea), a guaranteed quality of the fish fillets and derivatives and 100% plaice. In other words, maximum transparency.

Important hallmark elements include:

North Sea origin
A clean nutrient-rich sea, a breeding ground for flatfish and traditionally ultimately suitable for fishing. A heavily regulated area with the necessary attention devoted to sustainability.

Sustainable fishing
The fishermen are RFS / CVV certified and are actively involved with sustainable fishing techniques. A number of leaders are going for the full MSC assessment, which every fisherman will soon need to satisfy.

Fresh fish from nearby
Fresh fish from nearby, caught in a responsible manner. No contaminants – toxic substances and antibiotics – in the fish. Few ‘food miles’.

Professionally processed fish
The fish is immediately processed and stored in ice after it’s caught, in order to guarantee optimal processing at the most advanced fish processing companies in the Netherlands. Professional personnel, so an absolutely safe food product.

Top quality
The product must satisfy a large number of quality requirements, from the catch (not during the spawning period) up to the processing stage. For example, no injections to retain the water. In short, a pure and honest product.

Fresh is fresh
Guaranteed freshness as a result of arriving on shore quickly and an optimal distribution.

Quality assurance
A watertight control system in order to guarantee the quality of the plaice and prepared products.