Marine ingredients certification programme MarinTrust and marine conservation organisation Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise and strengthen their collaborative efforts in promoting responsible practices across the marine ingredient value chain.
Recognising the complementary nature of their missions, MarinTrust and SFP have agreed to accelerate progress towards shared goals, including:
- Governance: Continued SFP representation on MarinTrust committees, including the Governing Body Committee, Improver Programme Application Committee, Fisheries Development Oversight Committee, and Social and Ethical Committee
- Joint support for initiatives such as the FAO Gulf of Thailand (GoT) Fish Project, the MarinTrust Multispecies Pilot Project, the Global Roundtable for Marine Ingredients and others
- FIP ratings: Integration of SFP’s Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) ratings within the MarinTrust Improver Programme, with MarinTrust contributing to review and revision processes
- Insight and information sharing: Exchange of data, networks, and expertise to promote best practices and avoid duplication. This includes the use of FishSource data for MarinTrust certificate applications and exploring the use of the FAO Global Record of Stocks and Fisheries (GRSF) identifiers
MarinTrust Executive Chair Libby Woodhatch said the MoU marks a significant step forward in the longstanding relationship between the two organisations.
“By aligning our efforts, we can more effectively drive improvements in marine ingredient sourcing, traceability and production, ultimately benefiting ecosystems, communities and the users of marine ingredients such as the global aquaculture sector, the omega-3 nutraceutical industry and the pet food sector,” she said.
SFP Deputy Division Director Dave Martin added: “We are delighted to formalise our collaboration with MarinTrust, which started a long time ago and has resulted in fruitful projects such as the Multispecies Pilot Project and the Gulf of Thailand Fish Project. Together, we can amplify our impact and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable and equitable seafood supply chain.”
