WWF has objected over the Echebastar Indian Ocean purse-seine tuna fishery being certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard because it says it has no control over fishing levels and a dwindling fish stock.
It has consequently filed an objection against the certifier Food Certification International (FCI) Ltd. now trading as Acoura Marine.
Dr Wetjens Dimmlich, WWF’s Indian Ocean Tuna Programme Manager, said: “We feel that the premature certification of this fishery without adequately applying the requirements set out by MSC will result in a negative consequence for the management and conservation of tuna in the Indian Ocean.”
WWF said it believes a certified sustainable fishery should be a stable fishery producing predictable supply to market, not a crash fishery, which is the current outcome for yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean if present projections are borne out.
In March 2015, the MSC published a report recommending certification of some of the tuna caught by the Echebastar Indian Ocean Purse Seine Skipjack, Yellowfin and Bigeye tuna fishery. The certification was recommended only for free school fish, or those fish that are not caught in association with controversial Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs).
But a reduction in piracy over recent years has permitted vessels to move back into the area and renew pressure on the vulnerable yellowfin tuna stock.
WWF said that normally in a sustainably managed fishery there are well-defined controls established by fisheries managers which respond to changes in stock status and ensure a stable harvest. But, to date, the management body responsible for these species in the Indian Ocean has not yet adopted or implemented any of the elements of a harvest strategy.
WWF said that its concern is not with the client, Echebastar and it recognises its efforts to improve tuna governance through IOTC. But its gripe is with the “misapplication” of the MSC standards and requirements.
As a co-founder of MSC, the organisation openly promotes MSC certified products, but has become increasingly concerned at certifications which are seen by many to undermine the credibility of the process.
It said that the full application of the MSC’s robust standards and procedures are critical to ensuring the MSC maintains trusted position.
