The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched its updated standard for sustainable fishing which comes into effect from April 2015.
This second version reflects more up-to-date understanding of fishery science and management, including bycatch mitigation, vulnerable marine ecosystems and forced labour. By doing this it aims to help ensure that fisheries adopt the best practices in order to ensure the future security of fish stocks and livelihoods.
“This is an exciting development for the MSC. It adds rigour and robustness to the programme and will have a positive and lasting impact on the health of the world’s oceans,” said Dr David Agnew, Standards director, MSC.
Key updates incorporated into the new version of the MSC Fisheries Certification Requirements include the need for fisheriesto regularly review alternative measures that could reduce the mortality of unwanted species in the catches.
Another key update is new strengthened requirements that will work to ensure that shark finning is not occurring in MSC fisheries.
An entirely new default standard has been introduced for the assessment of enhanced salmon fisheries, following six years of discussion with stakeholders.
Also, an independent Peer Review College has been created to provide a more standardised and effective peer review process.
Conformity assessment bodies now have six months to understand and apply the updates so that from 1 April 2015 any fishery entering MSC assessment will be rated against the updated standard.
Fisheries that are already certified to the MSC standard will be assessed to the new standard at their first re-assessment commencing after October 2017.
