An independent adjudicator has confirmed the third-party conformity assessment body (CAB) decision that the PNA skipjack tuna fishery continues to meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard.
The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) claimed that shark finning was systematically taking place within the fishery. It also claimed that the fishery was having a significant impact on silky sharks. The independent adjudicator dismissed both claims.
Following rejection of the IPNLF’s claim that the fishery is not sustainable, the independent adjudicator noted that “…the assessment process under the FCR is a common sense method to reduce risks to the marine environment. PNA with their 100 % observer team and strategies have significantly reduced shark finning to a very limited extent… I accept the CAB’s submission that any fishery would be vulnerable to failing the certification process if only one or two “saboteurs” deliberately finned sharks.”
The adjudicator expressed their agreement with the CAB that “as silky shark comprises 0.05% of the PNA fishery and the entire WCPO un-associated purse seine fishery comprises 3 % of the overall silky shark, the CAB’s position is justified and not arbitrary or unreasonable when concluding the Fishery has no significant detrimental direct effect on silky shark.”
2013 ban
The MSC banned the practice of shark finning from the programme from 2013. The PNA governments also implemented its own ban on shark finning, and the practice of shark finning has been virtually eliminated in PNA waters over the past few years.
However, as part of the auditor’s recommendations, the PNA will need to continue to demonstrate that prosecutions and enforcement actions are maintained within the fishery.
A spokesperson from campaign group On The Hook said: “We are shocked that the PNA has been recertified as a sustainable fishery.”
It added: “It is receiving the same certification as truly sustainable fisheries even though it is a matter of fact that shark finning has taken place and high levels of bycatch of protected species are being caught in the fishery.”
