The best environmental choice in seafood Promoting Sustainable Seafood Harnessing the market to protect fishery resources and the productivity of marine ecosystems Rupert Howes Chief Executive Officer The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
The best environmental choice in seafood Contents Background The MSC Standard Certification Methodology Developing World Fisheries Governance and Credibility Progress to Date Conclusions
The best environmental choice in seafood Background International not-for-profit organisation set up in 1997, fully independent from founders in 1999 Mission - Use our eco-label and fishery certification programme to contribute to the health of the world s oceans by recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing practices Operating from 8 offices around the world & active in over 40 countries Mainly Grant Funded Annual Income circ. 5 million Euros Partnership organisation
The best environmental choice in seafood Development of the MSC Standard Two year process to develop 1997-99 Based on FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing Broad stakeholder consultation involving fisheries & environmental scientists, fisheries managers, environmental groups, & seafood supply chain
Features of the MSC Programme Third party independently accredited certifiers assess fisheries & supply chain Scope Wild Capture Fisheries Objective & scientifically verifiable Usable to assess fisheries no matter their size, scale, intensity, complexity, geography or technology High degree stakeholder engagement & transparency The best environmental choice in seafood
The best environmental choice in seafood MSC Standard - Principles The sustainability of the stock Ecosystem Impact Effective Management
FAO Minimum Substantive Requirements and Criteria for Ecolabels and Marine Capture Fisheries Paragraph 30 - Stocks under consideration Requirement: The stock under consideration is not overfished, and is maintained at a level which promotes the objective of optimal utilization and maintains its availability for present and future generations, taking into account that longer term changes in productivity can occur due to natural variability and/or impacts other than fishing. In the event that biomass drops well below such target levels, management measures (Code of Conduct Article 7.6) should allow for restoration within reasonable time frames of the stocks to such The following criteria are applicable: 30.1 The stock under consideration is not overfished if it is above the associated limit reference point (or its proxy). 30.2 If fishing mortality (or its proxy) is above the associated limit reference point, actions should be taken to decrease the fishing mortality (or its proxy) below that limit reference point. 30.3 The structure and composition of the stock under consideration which contribute to its resilience are taken into account. 30. In the absence of specific information on the stock under consideration, generic evidence based on similar stocks can be used for fisheries with low risk to that stock under consideration. However, the greater the risk the more specific evidence is necessary to ascertain the sustainability of intensive fisheries The best environmental choice in seafood
MSC Standard Principles and Components The best environmental choice in seafood MSC Standard Principle 1 Principle 2 Principle 3 Management indicator Outcome indicator Management indicator Outcome indicator Management Management
The best environmental choice in seafood Principle 1: Components and Performance Indicators MSC Standard Principle 1 Outcome Indicator Management Indicator Stock status Reference Points Stock Rebuilding Harvest Strategy Harvest control rules and tools Information/ monitoring Assessment of stock Status
The best environmental choice in seafood The Default Assessment Tree Performance indicators (31 PIs)
The best environmental choice in seafood Fishery Assessment Process What is assessed Steps in assessment process Stakeholder engagement
What is assessed? A Unit of Certification of a Fishery
What is a fishery? The Species The Method The Location
What is a Unit of Certification?
What is a Unit of Certification? The client s vessels
What is assessed? Principle 1 - Stock A Unit of Certification of a Fishery against the three principles of the MSC standard Principle 2 - Impact Principle 3- Management
MSC Fishery Assessment Process Surveillance Client decides to proceed Contract a CB Announces a site visit Site visit and scoring Surveillance Surveillance Surveillance Pre-assessment Consult on the FAM Client Review Decision to certify Decision to proceed- Consults* on team Peer Review Objections Period Announcement Assembles Expert Team Public Comment Report Final Report and Determination Filtering Preparation Scoring Review
MSC Fishery Assessment Process Surveillance Client decides to proceed Contract a CB Announces a site visit Site visit and scoring Surveillance Surveillance Surveillance Pre-assessment Consult on the FAM Client Review Decision to certify Decision to proceed- Consults* on team Peer Review Objections Period Announcement Assembles Expert Team Public Comment Report Final Report and Determination Stakeholder Consultation Filtering Preparation Scoring Review
MSC s traceability Standard Chain of Custody Third party verification of traceability A requirement for the on-product use of the MSC logo Assurance for customers and consumers Verifies on-product sustainability claims A requirement at every link in the chain The best environmental choice in seafood
The best environmental choice in seafood Accessibility for Small Scale Fisheries MSC Policy: Ensure equal access to the MSC s certification programme irrespective of size, scale, location and intensity of the fishery New Developments Risk Based Framework developed for data deficient fisheries Trials underway, Latin America, Africa and Asia & also Europe New Risk Based Methodology will be integrated in Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM) Fisheries entering pre-assessments
The best environmental choice in seafood The MSC is a Full Member of ISEAL The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) International Forest Stewardship Council International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Social Accountability International Marine Aquarium Council Marine Stewardship Council Rainforest Alliance Establishing the reliability, accountability, qualification and independence of third-party certification programmes to ensure buyers and consumers' confidence in them. Designed to serve as a minimum bar against which to measure the credibility of voluntary standards, 'ISEAL full membership' is an international reference for credible social and environmental standards.
The best environmental choice in seafood Consistency with FAO Guidelines for Eco-labelling of Marine Capture Products Voluntary Transparent Non-discriminatory Clear accountability Conformity with international standards Reliable auditing and verification process Recognition of sovereign rights Based on best scientific evidence Ensure labels communicate truthful information Provide for clarity
The best environmental choice in seafood An Accredited Third Party, Independent Certification Scheme Board of Trustees, Technical Advisory Board, Stakeholder Council monitors appoints guidance Standard setter independent governance and input Principles & Criteria for defines Sustainable Fishing Chain of Custody Standard Certification Methodology Stakeholder input Accreditation body accredits Certification body assesses Fisheries, processor, retailer, etc
Progress to Date - Supply Side About 8% of the world s edible wild capture fisheries are now engaged in the programme This represents by species category: 42% of the global wild salmon catch 40% of the global prime whitefish catch (cod, pollock, hake, haddock, and saithe) 18% of the global spiny lobster catch Over 5 million tonnes of seafood in total The best environmental choice in seafood
The best environmental choice in seafood Fishery Participation Over Time 160 (last updated February 2009) 140 120 100 80 60 Certified In assessment Total certified 40 20 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Fisheries in the MSC Programme: 41 certified 102 in assessment 7 in GASSDD trials The best environmental choice in seafood
Progress to Date on the Demand Side Global Retailer Commitments to Sustainable Seafood Procurement The best environmental choice in seafood
The best environmental choice in seafood 3000 2500 MSC-labelled Products as at 31st March 2009 Nov 08 2,000 products crossed 2000 1500 1000 Jan 07 500 products crossed Nov 07 1,000 products crossed 500 0
The best environmental choice in seafood MSC Chain of Custody Certifications Over Time (last updated March 2009) 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0
Product Launches Europe The best environmental choice in seafood
Product Launches Asia Pacific The best environmental choice in seafood
Product Launches Americas The best environmental choice in seafood
Certification is Making a Difference Market demand for independent certification is growing & driving change There is an ecological and business case Credible and robust certification and labelling programmes can compliment public policy measures and contribute to delivery of desired outcomes Clear role for consumers and the public in achieving these aims
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