The MSC has launched its new film Our Fisheries, Our Future: Sustainable Fishing in the Developing World. This is the latest initiative to support the positive transformation of seafood resources management in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.

With around half the world’s internationally traded seafood currently being produced in developing world countries, the MSC has an important role to play in spreading the message of sustainable fishing practices in developing countries.

At time of publishing, 16 developing world fisheries have been certified against the MSC standard and 10 are undertaking full assessment. These fisheries still represent a relatively small proportion of the total engaged with the MSC but there is ongoing work to promote participation.

Accessibility and awareness

"It is crucial that the MSC certification program is accessible and applicable to fisheries all across the world," explained Yemi Oloruntuyi, head of the Developing World Program at the MSC.

"One of the main challenges we face, however, is raising awareness among small-scale developing world fisheries of the tangible benefits MSC certification can provide.

"And so Our Fisheries, Our Future really grew out of the realisation that we needed something that spoke directly to fisheries in developing world countries. The goal was to create an effective tool that we could use to really engage with fishers who may be entirely new to the program and also engage with the stakeholders that are involved with them."

Improving management, market access and welfare

The film follows three developing world fisheries, (the Gambia red and black sole, Mexico red rock lobster, and Maldives skipjack tuna fisheries), that are using the MSC program to improve their management, improve their environmental outcomes, increase their access to markets and so enhance their economic and social welfare.

The fishers, managers and other stakeholders of the respective fisheries speak in their own words about how they became involved with the MSC program; the progress they have made in improving and developing the fishery; how they secured funding for their improvement plan and certification; and the benefits and impacts of involvement in the program, in environmental, social and economic terms.

Global engagement

The film will form a core part of MSC’s engagement strategy with fishery stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to demonstrate how the MSC Standard for sustainable fishing is open to all fisheries, regardless of size, scale, type, intensity or region.