The new Fisheries Standard developed by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has been unanimously approved by the certification programme’s Board of Trustees.
A four-year review involved scientific research and consultation with over 1,000 stakeholders, including fisheries, scientists, assessors, environmental NGOs and industry representatives.
According to MSC, it addressed some of the most difficult issues facing the ocean, including protecting marine biodiversity and incentivising stronger ocean governance.
It also aimed to improve accessibility to MSC’s sustainability programme for small-scale and emerging market fisheries.
Improvements include:
- A new approach to protect endangered, threatened or protected species. Fisheries will be expected to minimise their impacts on such species to help their population recover
- A “Fins Naturally Attached” policy will be mandatory in all fisheries that retain sharks. These measures will strengthen the existing ban on shark-finning in MSC-certified fisheries
- Some existing requirements have been stream-lined with the objective of making assessments more efficient and improvements in methods to aid data-limited fisheries, will increase accessibility
- New measures for multi-jurisdictional fisheries, managed by RFMOs, to secure credible, robust harvest strategies
- New evidence requirements will ensure that fisheries - especially those operating on the high seas with unwanted catch that includes, for example, marine birds – will have to produce stronger proof of how they are managing their impacts
Dr Werner Kiene, Chairman of the MSC’s Board of Trustees, said, “While there are sometimes competing views of what should be in the standard and where the bar is set, we strongly believe that this new version strikes the right balance between setting a high ambition for sustainability with the need to make sure that the requirements are practical for the best performing fisheries around the world to implement over appropriate transition timelines.”
MSC’s Fisheries Standard, which is based on FAO guidelines for eco-labelling, is reviewed at least every five years in line with the ISEAL Standard Setting Code of Best Practice.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of MSC said the new standard would deliver real benefits and contribute to accelerating the delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is good news for the ocean, fishers and consumers,” he said.
The new version of the standard will be published in October. Fisheries entering assessment for the first time will apply the new standard from May 2023.
