The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched a new initiative to accelerate progress in sustainable fishing practices worldwide.
The newly launched MSC Improvement Program offers fisheries additional support and incentives on their pathway to MSC certification. The aim is to assess these fisheries to the MSC Fisheries Standard within five years with an independently verified action plan.
Working with fishery improvement projects
Many brands and retailers source seafood from fisheries undergoing Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) as part of their responsible sourcing commitments. However, the effectiveness and impact of these projects vary significantly. The MSC Improvement Program will provide more robust assurance that participating fisheries are improving their ecological performance faster.
Incentivising participation
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC Chief Program Officer, says: "With the launch of the MSC Improvement Program, we are offering a new solution to commercial companies that seek greater assurance around their fishery improvement plans and faster progress towards MSC certification. They can be confident that when they source from Improvement Program fisheries, those fisheries are committed to achieving certification.
"By including the program in their sourcing policies, retailers can demonstrate market demand for products from Improvement Program fisheries."
Once fisheries participating in the MSC Improvement Program achieve performance and traceability requirements, retail products containing their seafood can display a back-of-pack statement indicating their participation in the program.
Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC’s Head of Fishery Standard Accessibility, stated: “Without well-managed fisheries, fishing communities and the fishing industry are at risk. While the MSC works with hundreds of committed fisheries, not all can immediately meet the MSC Fisheries Standard. By expanding our reach, the MSC Improvement Program will incentivise many more fisheries to improve their ecological performance. In doing so, we’re stepping up our efforts to protect marine biodiversity and turn the tide on overfishing.”
Products with seafood that meet the MSC Fisheries Standard will continue to be eligible to use the MSC blue fish tick label and claim front of pack.
Proof of concept
The Improvement Program launches after a successful five-year pilot of the In-Transition to MSC (ITM) program, which began in 2019 and expanded from Mexico, South Africa, and Indonesia to all fisheries. In August, ICV Africa, part of the South African Albacore tuna pole-and-line fishery, became the first to achieve full certification.
According to the latest UN data, overfishing of global fish stocks has risen to 38%, and rapid progress is urgently needed. Over 500 fisheries accounting for 19% of global catch have been certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard, the leading international certification program for environmentally sustainable fisheries. By 2030, the MSC aims to have over a third of global wild capture either certified or in its improvement program.
In Australia, 30 fisheries are engaged in the MSC program, accounting for 37% of catch. MSC certified fisheries in Australia have made 116 improvements relating to bycatch, ecosystem impact and effective fisheries management.
