The Marine Stewardship Council has launched an initiative aimed at accelerating progress in sustainable fishing practices worldwide.
Over 500 fisheries have been certified, according to the MSC’s Fisheries Standard. However, the organisation said there was an urgent need for more rapid progress.
Nearly 38% of global fish stocks are now overfished, according to the latest UN data.
The new MSC Improvement Program seeks to address this by offering fisheries support and incentives, provided they make measurable improvements over a five-year period.
These improvements will be guided by an action plan that is independently verified.
This initiative complements existing Fishery Improvement Projects, which operate globally. The MSC Improvement Program has the goal of helping fisheries achieve MSC certification.
It is designed to provide stronger assurance that FIPs’ progress is verified and timely, as the effectiveness and impact of such projects can vary significantly.
The programme will recognise the most effective FIPs with the aim that they enter full assessment against the MSC Fisheries Standard within five years.
“The MSC works with hundreds of committed fisheries around the world that are leaders in sustainability,” said Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC’s head of fishery standard accessibility. “However, not all fisheries are currently able to meet our Fisheries Standard, despite the growing urgency.
“This new initiative aims to incentivise fisheries to improve their sustainability practices,” she added. “In doing so, we support not only the health of the oceans and future seafood supplies but also the livelihoods of the communities that rely on fishing.”
Participants in the new programme will not be eligible to use the blue MSC eco-label as their catch is not certified. However, once they achieve minimum performance requirements and meet specific conditions, they may gain access to MSC-certified supply chains.
Retail products containing their seafood can also display a back-of-pack statement indicating their participation.
“The launch of MSC’s new Improvement Program marks a significant milestone for UK fisheries wishing to make improvements to their practices,” said Lisa Bennett, MSC UK & Ireland senior fisheries outreach manager. “It provides a tool to support them towards gaining MSC certification for their landings, and market recognition for their efforts in getting there.”
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