The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has published an analysis of the impact of sustainable seafood certification in safeguarding marine resources.
The MSC Global Impacts Report 2017 details more than a thousand examples of positive change made by certified fisheries to safeguard fish stocks and marine habitats.
"The MSC program provides both recognition and incentive for responsible ocean stewardship,” said Rupert Howes, MSC’s chief executive. “20 years since the creation of the MSC, certified fisheries today account for 12% of global marine catch. MSC certified fisheries are targeting healthy and well managed stocks. They are also safeguarding marine habitats and ecosystems through ongoing commitments to improve their performance.”
MSC stated that analysis of stock data from a sample of certified and non-certified fisheries shows that MSC certified fisheries target healthy or recovering fish stocks. Certified fisheries, overall, target larger populations of fish in the years following certification and, compared to non-certified fisheries, show less variability in the sustainability of target fish stocks.
MSC’s report shows that 94% of fisheries entering the program have made at least one improvement to achieve or maintain certification, totalling more than 1,200 over the last 16 years. Of these, 117 actions by 39 fisheries contributed to improving habitat status, management and information. In total, MSC certified fisheries have been involved with 46 new scientific research projects as part of efforts to better understand and minimise impacts on habitats.
To date, 18 MSC certified fisheries have changed where and how they fish to minimise damage to seabed habitats, with some implementing voluntary closed areas to maintain certification.
However, MSC stressed that roughly half of fisheries which complete voluntary pre-assessment to the MSC Fisheries Standard do not progress to full assessment, suggesting that they have work to do to reach the requirements of certification.
The findings as the United Nations (UN) Oceans Conference takes place from 5-9 June, in New York, to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which calls to conserve and sustainably use the oceans.
MSC’s goal is for 20% of all wild caught seafood to come from fisheries engaged in the MSC program by 2020.
