According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), over 50 per cent of the world’s fish stocks are fished to their biological limit and another 25 per cent are overfished or depleted. Whether or not these numbers are exact, the need to implement workable solutions that ensure the sea is harvested sustainably is a top priority for the seafood industry. The sector supports the livelihoods of millions of people and provides food security for many more. We cannot afford to lose it.
The independent not-for-profit organisation Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) offers a market-driven approach to securing fish stocks and conserving marine eco-systems. The international charity runs the leading eco-certification and eco-labelling programme for wild capture fisheries. It is the only organisation worldwide that is 100 per cent consistent with the FAO’s ‘Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries’.
To date, 22 fisheries are certified to the MSC’s environmental standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries and almost 500 fish and seafood products in 25 nations bear the organisation’s bold blue eco-label. In total, over 50 fisheries are engaged in the MSC’s programme. Together, they represent 42 per cent of the world’s salmon catch, 32 per cent of the prime whitefish catch and 18 per cent of the world’s lobster catch.
The MSC standard is based on three principles. To meet the standard a fishery has to make sure that there are healthy populations of fish for the long-term future, that ecosystems are intact and that it runs effective management systems. Every fishery, regardless of its size, location or type, can apply to be independently assessed against the MSC standard. Large-volume fisheries such as Alaska pollock and in-shore mixed fisheries such as the Hastings pelagic fleet have earned certification and show that the MSC programme is accessible to all.
The certification process starts with a confidential pre-assessment carried out by a third party certifier. This step gives the fishery an indication on whether it is already close to the MSC standard, and many fisheries use it to explore the MSC programme. A positive pre-assessment report can help a fishery build local support and seek funding for full assessment. Grants are available to cover the costs of both pre- and full assessment.
Following the pre-assessment, many fisheries take the decision to go ahead with full assessment. A third-party assessment team, consisting of the certifier and a team of highly qualified independent experts, rigorously assess the fishery against the MSC standard. This includes on-site visits, reviewing fishery and scientific data and compiling detailed reports on the team’s findings. The assessment is independent, transparent and includes consultation with external stakeholders to make sure that it builds on broad consensus.
If the fishery meets the MSC standard it is awarded a certificate that proves it has been independently verified as sustainable and well-managed and it is eligible to display the MSC eco-label on its fish products. The certificate is valid for five years and is supported by annual surveillance visits. Upon certification, the fishery signs an agreement with a certifier to arrange for the annual surveillance audits. To date, every certified fishery has also implemented measures to deliver a post-certification action plan.
MSC-certification comes with a bag full of benefits. Processors and retailers around the world increasingly demand MSC-labelled fish and seafood and favour certified suppliers in their sourcing policies. This opens new markets and gives access to environmentally-aware customers. Some fisheries have reported price premiums due to MSC certification and others have reported business benefits such as market stability and security. Enhanced traceability in the light of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities minimises risks for the entire supply chain. Improved relations with conservation groups and authorities as well as local recognition of good practices contribute to an overall better reputation.
Maybe most important, healthy marine eco-systems and abundant fish stocks through sustainable resource management secure the long-term future of fisheries and the livelihoods that depend on it.
Certification to the MSC standard is a big commitment, but the increasing number of fisheries seeking certification and re-certification shows that it is a worthwhile investment.
