As governments around the world continue to slash vital funding for scientific research, the Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) bucks the trend.
On 17 July 2024, the latest raft of OSF recipients was announced. Scientific researchers from eight different countries are among those who will be furthering improvements in fisheries committed to sustainability. The researchers, in conjunction with
ten associated fisheries, were granted almost £500,000 GBP for applications to either the Transition Assistance Fund or Student Research Grants.
In 2023/24, the MSC awarded 32 grants to support fisheries and innovative research projects,
totalling nearly £1 million. Since 2018 the OSF has bestowed over 140 grants totalling approx. £5.25 million GBP to scientific researchers whose projects are designed to expand knowledge and close data gaps in sustainable fisheries science.
The 2023-24 funding round included thirteen projects associated with wild-capture fisheries in Mexico, Nicaragua, Suriname, Peru, South Africa, India, Indonesia and New Zealand. These fisheries are mainly all verified as part of the In-Transition to the MSC Program. By making improvements to their fishing
practices, they aim to meet the MSC Fisheries Standard for environmental sustainability.
Nine of the projects received support from the Transition Assistance Fund. The research scientists who received these grants are focused on gaining more insight around the population dynamics of target stocks. Through the research, fisheries can be more
informed on the abundance of the stocks they harvest and ensure rules are in place to better manage catch limits and harvest at sustainable rates.
Additionally, there are four Student Research Grants in this year’s funding round. Issued mainly to early career researchers such as master’s degree students and PhD candidates, the projects aim to aid fisheries in minimising their impacts
on biodiversity and the wider marine ecosystem.
A Student Research Grant project located in Baja California, Mexico looked at the populations and life cycles of brown pelicans that frequently interact with a sardine fishery. The data will give an accurate assessment
of the pelican population size and understand any impacts the fishery may make on it. The funding for this project was donated to OSF by retailer Carrefour Italy and seafood brand Delicius as part of MSC Italy’s Sustainable Seafood Week, 2023.
The South Africa hake longline fishery is seeking to improve their fishing practices by learning more about the orcas and fur seals they encounter in their operations. This will inform the management of the fishery and
improve the accuracy of hake stock assessments.
In Suriname, a student researcher from Vrije University, Brussels is using a smartphone app that will help a corvina and acoupa weakfish fishery develop a database of endangered, threatened and protected species within their range.
The database will be open access and help other fisheries in the region ensure they are also minimising their impacts.
Dr Beth Polidoro, Research Director, of the MSC, said, “The Ocean Stewardship Fund is an excellent vehicle to support scientists early in their careers to test hypotheses and make new discoveries. The marine environment is significantly changing around the globe, and fisheries will have to continue to adapt. Supporting initiatives for improved data and solutions informed by science are imperative to navigating these challenges.”
