Saving Seafood

MSC certified Pharma Marine launches sustainably sourced CodMarine Oil in North America

November 18, 2015 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Norway’s Pharma Marine AS, a leader in the production of premium quality fish oils and omega-3 concepts, and Healthy Directions, a direct-to-consumer nutritional supplement retailer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE), have launched the sustainably sourced supplement, Dr. Williams CodMarine® Oil, for the first time in North America. The omega-3 sources in the oil product are fully traceable to sustainable and well-managed Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries. The MSC is the world’s most recognized certification program for sustainable, wild-caught seafood.

Pharma Marine’s CodMarine Omega-3 Fish Oil

MSC certification underscores Pharma Marine’s core values of caring for natural resources and people in a responsible and sustainable manner and supporting healthy oceans. Based on the west coast of Norway near a region where marine oil production dates back more than 130 years, Pharma Marine, an innovator in marine lipids, recently expanded its technologically advanced facility to enable the increased production of premium quality EPA and DHA products from fresh or frozen wild-caught fish. Pharma Marine’s sustainably sourced fish oil product, CodMarine, is traceable to MSC certified fisheries including North East Arctic cod, haddock and saithe.

Leif Kjetil Gjendemsjo, owner of Pharma Marine, said, “We are proud to introduce our sustainably sourced CodMarine product to the U.S. market and help consumers to make a difference and contribute to the health of the world’s oceans. The blue MSC ecolabel on each bottle provides assurance that there is complete traceability of CodMarine fish oil to sustainable and well-managed fisheries.”

Healthy Directions

Pharma Marine’s CodMarine Omega-3 Fish Oil is available in the U.S. through Healthy Directions’ Dr. Williams brand. In line with Healthy Directions’ mission of helping people to lead healthier lives through the core values of responsibility, integrity, and continuous innovation, Dr. Williams has added CodMarine Oil to his product line to offer a sustainable omega-3 fish oil solution to his customers. The expanded line of sustainably sourced supplements offers options to support cardiovascular and other health benefits.

Connie Hallquist, President of Healthy Directions, said, “We are pleased to offer Dr. Williams’ CodMarine Oil to the U.S. market as we work to ensure we are providing innovative and sustainable solutions for consumers. The blue MSC ecolabel enables consumers to make a difference by choosing fish oil that can be traced back to a sustainable fishery.”

MSC certification ensures traceability

The MSC maintains two global standards, one for evaluating the sustainability of fisheries and one for ensuring that seafood products carrying the blue MSC ecolabel are traceable to MSC certified fisheries. To ensure traceability through every step in the chain, Pharma Marine earned MSC Chain of Custody certification, which provides assurance that MSC certified seafood is not mixed with or substituted for non-certified seafood. MSC certification also ensures that seafood products that bear the blue MSC ecolabel can be traced back to a fishery that has been certified as sustainable and well managed against the global, science based MSC Fishery Standard.

“We congratulate Healthy Directions and Pharma Marine on the introduction of the sustainably sourced CodMarine fish oil supplement product to the U.S. market,” said Michael Griff, MSC senior commercial manager, Americas. “By looking for and choosing the blue MSC ecolabel, consumers are able to contribute to the health of the world’s oceans and safeguard seafood supplies for this and future generations.”

Canadian herring gillnet fishery first in the world to achieve MSC certification

November, 5, 2015 — Toronto, Canada — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council: 

The Gulf Nova Scotia Herring Federation and its member associations have achieved the globally-recognized Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for sustainable fishing. Fall herring from the fishery in Canada`s southern Gulf of St. Lawrence can now be sold with the blue MSC ecolabel indicating it comes from a sustainable, well-managed source. This is the first ever gillnet herring fishery to achieve MSC certification.

”We are delighted to see this important fishery independently assessed and certified as being well managed and environmentally sustainable,” said Federation Chairman and herring fisher Greg Egilsson. “To be the first herring fishery in the world with this gear type to achieve MSC certification is a huge accomplishment and endorsement of the conservation measures championed by the Federation over many years. The broad recognition of the MSC Standard in the seafood supply chain and among consumers in other markets will allow Canadian processors to make further inroads into new markets where herring products are highly sought after. We are also grateful to the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture for its important support of the assessment.”

”Nova Scotia has a proud history of supplying high quality fish to the world, ” said Nova Scotia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell. ”Now, with the independent certification of the Marine Stewardship Council, we can enhance our global image with environmentally-conscious consumers and the marketability of our herring.”

While most Fall herring harvesters also engage in other seasonal fisheries like lobster and snow crab, herring plays a vital role in supporting close to 2,000 jobs in as many as 35 processing plants in the southern Gulf region.

Fall herring is one component of a coastal, multi-species fishery that opens for only a very limited period in September and October. In 2015, the 400 eligible fish harvesters landed 5,630 mt of herring worth almost $2.6 million.  It occurs in Herring Fishing Area 16 F situated within the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence specifically in waters off the eastern portion of the Northumberland Strait between the northern shore of Nova Scotia and southeastern shore of Prince Edward Island.

“The MSC is thrilled to welcome Canadian Fall herring into our program,” said Jay Lugar, Program Director for MSC in Canada. “The Gulf of St. Lawrence is home to a rich diversity of species of which many are commercially harvested and a large portion of volume is MSC certified. We are proud to see Fall herring join the ranks of fisheries that are working hard to protect our marine ecosystems and using the MSC certification to signal their accomplishments to the world.”

A staple in European and Asian diets for centuries, herring is a highly versatile  mild-tasting oily fish and can be found in many forms including fresh, frozen, cured, canned, smoked, herring roe, and oil. In Canada, herring roe is an important product and is mostly sold in Japan. Much of the Fall herring is also sold to processors for the smoked herring market in North America and the Caribbean.

JON WILLIAMS: Not So Fast On Atlantic Marine Monument

WASHINGTON — November 4, 2015 — The following is an excerpt from an opinion piece written by Jon Williams, President of the Atlantic Red Crab Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was originally published today by The Hill, a Washington-based publication covering Congressional policy and politics: 

An ongoing campaign led by large, well-funded environmental organizations is urging President Obama to use the 1906 Antiquities Act to designate parts of the Atlantic Ocean-such as Cashes Ledge in the Gulf of Maine and the New England Canyons and Seamounts-as marine National Monuments. In September, I had the privilege of testifying before House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans about the aspect of this proposal that seeks to exclude historic fisheries from the designated area.

The Antiquities Act, originally enacted to give Teddy Roosevelt authority to protect vulnerable Native American archeological sites, allows the president to act quickly, unilaterally, and without Congressional oversight to preserve sites in danger of destruction. The act, while undoubtedly created in good faith, has been misused in the case of marine monuments to a frightening extent.

In my case, the red crab fishing business I’ve been operating for twenty years is active in some of the areas under the proposal. Not only has our fishery complied with every regulation, but we have expended significant resources and time to ensure the health of the resource we fish.  We were the first U.S. Atlantic Coast fishery certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, demonstrating we have minimal impact on the health of the species and its environment. Additionally, we are listed as “Ocean-Friendly” by the New England Aquarium Seafood Guide program. 

Although these processes took years of effort and hundreds of thousands of dollars-a significant cost for a fishery of our size-it was important that we understood how the red crab fishery impacted the environment and demonstrated that our practices were indeed sustainable. 

These efforts to both understand and minimize our impact on the environment have been so successful that after forty years of red crab fishing, our fishing grounds are described as “pristine” by the same environmental groups who seek the monument designation. If these habitats are still “pristine” after forty years of fishing, how can a serious argument be made that the area is in imminent danger and in need of immediate, unilateral protection by presidential fiat? By labeling our fishery as an imminent threat despite our ability to keep the area pristine, these environmental groups have both ignored the facts and devalued our successful efforts to operate a sustainable fishery.

In addition, those of us who have fished sustainably and responsibly in the area for decades have had our voices almost completely shut out of this process. A prime example was the September 15 “town hall” meeting held by NOAA in Providence, Rhode Island. Hastily arranged, many fishermen who would be affected by the proposals were not even aware that it took place. Those in attendance were provided no firm details on the scope of the proposal, preventing them from commenting substantively about something that could dramatically affect or even eliminate their livelihoods. There’s no guarantee that there will be any future opportunity for those affected to voice their concerns. The Antiquities Act does not require such input, and a designation could come at any time.

Read the full opinion piece at The Hill 

Canadian yellowtail flounder re-certification proof that fishery rebuilding works

October 29, 2015 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Demonstrating a continuous commitment to sustainable fishing practices, the Ocean Choice International (OCI) Grand Bank Yellowtail Flounder Fishery has been re-certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fishery Standard as being sustainable and well managed.

Over its first five year period of certification, to continue to meet the MSC’s robust Standard, the fishery worked to meet nine conditions for improvement, including reducing bycatch and minimizing damage to marine habitats. Their success in achieving these conditions demonstrates that MSC certification helps to provide an effective path to continued positive change on our oceans.

“We take great pride in ensuring all our fisheries operate in a responsible and sustainable manner and we are pleased with the re-certification of yellowtail flounder,“said Blaine Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of OCI. “As a global leader in responsible management and sustainable fisheries we continue our efforts and commitment as stewards of our oceans and marine environment.”

Read the full story at Marine Stewardship Council

Aramark To Source All Canned Tuna From MSC Certified Sources By April 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] — October 16, 2015 — Major foodservice distributor Aramark plans to source all of its canned skipjack and albacore tuna products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) by April 2016.

The $15 billion global supplier of food, facilities management, and uniforms, developed the plan in consultations with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and the MSC. When the transition is complete in April 2016, Aramark will have converted an estimated 2.5 million pounds of tuna to sustainably sourced product.

“The Marine Stewardship Council congratulates Aramark on its commitment to source from MSC certified tuna fisheries. In making certified sustainable seafood available to its customers, Aramark is helping to raise consumer awareness about the importance of ensuring wild fish supplies for generations to come,” said Brian Perkins, MSC Regional Director, Americas.

All contracted canned tuna products Aramark purchases in the U.S. will meet green “Best Choice” or yellow “Good Alternative” by Seafood Watch recommendations: all skipjack canned tuna products will come from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries; and all albacore canned tuna products will be pole-and-line caught or from MSC certified fisheries, whenever available.

“Aramark is committed to providing our consumers with safe, high-quality, nutritious food that is sourced responsibly,” said Scott Barnhart, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Procurement, Aramark. “By transitioning to 100% sustainable canned tuna, we are strengthening our responsible sourcing practices, while delivering on our mission to enrich and nourish lives.”

This transition is the next significant step in Aramark’s sustainable seafood commitment. The company has already transitioned half of its total seafood purchases to sustainable sources. As of October 2014, 99% of frozen fin fish purchases met the Seafood Watch® “Best Choice” and “Good Alternative” recommendations.

“Aramark’s commitment is helping to transform the marketplace,” said Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, Director of Seafood Watch®. “By creating more demand for seafood from ocean-friendly sources that protect sea life and habitats.”

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.

Celebrating 15 years of sustainable seafood: MSC’s Annual Report 2014-15

October 13, 2015 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today released its annual report, marking 15 years since the launch of the transformational program rewarding and incentivising sustainable fishing.

The 2014-15 Annual Report, Celebrating 15 years of certified sustainable seafood, showcases industry leaders working to safeguard seafood supplies for the future. Fisheries which meet the MSC’s high standard of sustainability now catch close to nine million metric tonnes of seafood, representing almost 10% of the total global wild-caught seafood supply. This includes nearly half (45.9%) of the global whitefish catch. Seafood retailers and restaurants now sell over 17,000 products with the MSC ecolabel and more than 34,000 business locations are part of the MSC Chain of Custody, ensuring a traceable global supply chain.

“This growth and momentum, through the leadership of our partners, is driving lasting change in the way our oceans are fished, rewarding good practice and catalysing improvements where needed to meet the growing global demand for certified sustainable seafood” says MSC CEO, Rupert Howes.

This year, the MSC updated its Fisheries Standard to ensure it reflects the latest science and best management practices widely adopted by the world’s leading fisheries. A growing evidence base, captured in the MSC’s 2015 Global Impacts Report, also shows that MSC certified fisheries are maintaining healthy fish populations and effectively managing their impacts on habitats and ecosystems.

“The MSC is a learning organisation and we’ve invested heavily in strengthening the rigour of our program and building our evidence base on how our partners are delivering positive outcomes for our oceans” adds Mr Howes.

On the market side, the report acknowledges the bold global commitment by IKEA to only sell and serve certified sustainable seafood throughout its more than 370 stores, and the Iglo Group’s 100% sustainable fish commitment. This year also marked the MSC’s arrival in a new market with MSC certified products on sale in South Korea thanks to seafood processor Hansung and Lotte Mart, the country’s largest retailer.

“Market demand for sustainable seafood is helping to drive positive change in how our oceans are fished and managed. As more retailers and processors choose MSC certified seafood, other fisheries are encouraged into MSC assessment to meet the opportunities that higher demand for sustainable seafood can deliver” adds Mr Howes.

In 2014-15, 40 new fisheries achieved MSC certification and over 70 entered full assessment. These fisheries included artisanal fishing communities alongside large scale commercial fishing operations. The report highlights two pioneers, the first certified fisheries in India and China – the Ashtamudi clam and Zoneco scallop fisheries. Around 1,000 people depend on the Kerala-based clam fishery for their livelihoods, while the Chinese scallop fishery employs more than 20,000 fishers through a cooperative, and covers more than half a million hectares of the North Yellow Sea.

Two decades on from the collapse of the Grand Banks cod fishery in Newfoundland, the report highlights the commitments of fisheries in the Northern Hemisphere which are helping ensure the ongoing productivity of northern waters: 97% Canadian Atlantic lobster is now MSC certified; 87% of Alaska’s fisheries, by volume, are MSC certified; and the Iceland Sustainable Fisheries group is seeking MSC certification for all its commercial fisheries.

Consumers in close to 100 countries can now choose from more than 100 different certified seafood species, with an estimated US$4.5 billion spent globally by consumers on MSC labelled products in 2014-15.

View a PDF of the full annual report

Lake Erie fishermen obtain global recognition for sustainable fishing

TORONTO — October 8, 2015 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye (pickerel) fisheries have become the fourth and largest commercial freshwater fishery in the world to achieve MSC certification, demonstrating they are well-managed and environmentally sustainable. They are the first in the Great Lakes to achieve MSC certification and only the second in North America.

With total catches of 3,176 metric tonnes of yellow perch and 2,132 metric tonnes of walleye in 2014 by the now certified vessels, the fisheries will provide a significant volume of MSC certified lake fish to markets in the U.S., Canada and globally. This also signifies an influx of locally sourced, MSC certified fish for the 11.6 million inland inhabitants in the surrounding Canadian and U.S. areas – a rare opportunity for non-coastal communities.

“Our fisheries have a long, rich history, and operating them sustainably is about ensuring our local industry can stay productive and competitive for this and future generations,” said Tim Tiessen, President of the Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association (OCFA). “Sustainability is the hallmark of our industry so MSC certification is excellent news for the Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye commercial fisheries. The companies buying our fish are looking for ways to prove to their customers that it is responsibly sourced, and the MSC certification allows us to do just that.”

Lake Erie is not only home to one of the world’s largest freshwater commercial fisheries but also the economic backbone of many local communities founded on and supported by the industry. As the most important species harvested, yellow perch and walleye (pickerel) contribute heavily to the area’s 1,490 fishing and processing jobs, provided by independently-owned small and medium sized businesses.

The MSC fishery certificate, initiated and owned by the OCFA, applies to yellow perch landed in Ontario, Canada and in Ohio, United States, and walleye landed in Canadian waters. The Lake Erie fishery is managed cooperatively by Canada and the United States through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC).

“The success of this large project involved the work of many groups and individuals, including fish processors, fishermen, and the Lake Erie Committee, which includes the Lake Managers from the Province of Ontario and four US States bordering Lake Erie,” added Tiessen.

In addition to the fishery certification, two Ontario-based supply chain processors, La Nassa Foods and Presteve Foods Ltd, have also achieved MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification allowing them to purchase and sell Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye as MSC certified. Other OCFA members are eligible to complete CoC certification.

“The MSC is extremely proud to welcome such a significant and iconic fishery into our program,” said Jay Lugar, Program Director for MSC in Canada. “When we think fisheries in Canada we must always consider the importance of commercial freshwater fisheries. As the most credible and recognized standard for sustainable fishing, and in a country known worldwide for its freshwater resources, we are committed to expanding engagement by inland fisheries in Canada. The Lake Erie certification is a tremendous achievement and we hope it will pave the way for more freshwater fisheries to enter the program.

Read a PDF version of the release from the Marine Stewardship Council

North Sea cod could be back on menu as numbers improve

September 25, 2015 — The eco-conscious fish and chips lover may soon be able to enjoy guilt-free battered cod caught in the North Sea after the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) removed it from their red list of fish to avoid eating.

MSC piloting innovative seafood traceability tool

August 17, 2015 — The following has been released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The MSC is exploring new ways of providing additional protection from seafood fraud in its supply chain. Over the past two years we have been piloting a new traceability tool, the MSC Online Transaction Solution (MOTS), and are seeking feedback to shape its continued development.

Pioneering tool

To date there has been no online tool available that can securely handle and verify information about seafood supply chain transactions on a global scale.

The new tool cross-checks and verifies sales and purchases of seafood products made by processing, distribution and retail companies as they move through the complex global supply chain.

Since its development in 2012, the online verification tool has been trialled in seven European and fifteen Chinese companies. The current plan is to roll the tool out to over 3,000 supply chain companies handling certified products in over 34,000 sites around the world.

Invitation to help shape the tool

This is the second and final opportunity for industry partners to offer their expertise, and help shape an effective tool that meets current and future industry demands.

How to take part in consultation

The public consultation is open from 17 August to 18 September 2015.

If you are a seafood industry professional, you can:

Share your insights in our online consultation >

Join our online interactive MOTS workshop > (2 and 3 September)

The workshops are designed for supply chain companies to offer practical solutions on seafood transaction and verification. Spaces are limited, so please register your interest by email to standards@msc.org.

Meeting industry needs and global best-practice

“The MSC’s segregation and traceability program is widely recognised as one of the most effective systems for tracking seafood along the supply chain” said Titia Sjenitzer, Senior Product Integrity Manager at the MSC. “However, the seafood industry is dynamic. Demand for certified sustainable seafood continues to grow, and other certification schemes such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), are working with the MSC and using our Chain of Custody Standard. This means that more scalable monitoring mechanisms are required to ensure the MSC’s system remains efficient and effective”.

Over 3,000 organisations, operating from over 34,000 sites in more than 60 countries currently hold an MSC Chain of Custody certificate. These organisations are responsible for handling over 18,000 products that are sold with the MSC ecolabel in around 100 countries.

DNA testing shows that 99% of MSC labelled products are correctly labelled, demonstrating the integrity of the current system. However, the MSC is seeking to evolve its tools and systems in order to ensure that its Chain of Custody Standard continues to lead the industry in ensuring a traceable supply chain for seafood.

Using latest technologies, the tool will complement, but not replace, the existing MSC Chain of Custody system.

“We took part in trialling the MSC Online Transaction Solution and felt it is an important addition to our business. The tool provides us with added confidence that our brand and products are running through a secure and genuine supply chain handling only certified seafood” said Alex Olsen, A. Espersen A/S, MSC certified processing company in Denmark.

If the pilot proves successful, the new tool will be implemented across the full program by 2018. The tool will verify seafood sale and purchase transaction information (such as volume, species, invoice number and transaction date) to mitigate the risk of non-sustainable products being labelled and sold as certified.

JOHN SACKTON: Is the MSC Making a Global Power Grab to Protect Monopoly with New Chain of Custody Program?

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton — August 18, 2015 — Something fishy is going on in the rarified world of the Marine Stewardship Council’s global bureaucracy.

At the moment when the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative is rolling out pilots for benchmarking sustainability standards so as to provide interoperability, the MSC is unveiling a new program, potentially mandatory, that would lock world seafood commerce to the MSC.

The program is called the MSC Online Transaction Solution or MOTS. It is designed to require every MSC chain of custody holder to report monthly all transactions of MSC products under chain of custody, with customer name, invoice number and volume.

The MSC and its auditors could then match sales up and down the supply chain in almost real time.

Why is such a program being proposed?

The infographic for the program looks like this:

The current chain of custody requires visibility one step up and one step down, and it requires full internal batch traceability for companies with MSC chain of custody certificates.

This means an auditor can trace product up and down the supply chain, but there is no centralized electronic database of all MSC certified seafood sales.

If the MSC program had a high level of fraud or misrepresentation, there might be justification for a more rigorous system. But the MSC itself says its DNA testing has found over 99% of all MSC products tested were correctly labeled.

“The results gave us confidence that our chain of custody measures work. With other industry studies showing mislabelling levels closer to 10%, the level for MSC products was extremely low, ” said Alison Roel, product integrity manager in the MSC’s Standards team. 

If there is no credible risk of fraud in the MSC chain of custody system, what is driving the MOTS program?

Some companies are already actively engaged in full supply chain traceability, using new reporting tools sold by traceability companies. 

This can be a competitive advantage for some companies.

For example, a trader in Europe who uses such a system can guarantee to his customer that the fish he purchased from China in fact was MSC certified Alaska pollock from a particular vessel, processed by a particular company. For buyers who want such assurance, these systems will help make a sale. 

But when such information is aggregated across the global seafood industry, it gives tremendous power and leverage to the company that owns the data. 

The MSC says there are currently over 3000 companies with chain of custody certificates. They hope this number will grow to 10,000 by 2020, and they also plan to incorporate Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) products in the same chain of custody process. 

In their discussion document, the MSC says “This expansion of the program into different regions and species is accompanied with increasing concerns around the presence of fraud and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) in seafood supply chains in general. Addressing these challenges with the existing CoC system, such as the traceback and mass balance exercises during audits and across the supply chain, might not be cost effective enough or adequate due to their sample-based and manual nature. “ 

“The need for the MSC to look into new online solutions to maintain the credibility of its well respected CoC program was supported in the stakeholder survey in April 2012 and during several discussions with the MOTS Steering Committee and the MSC’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB). “ 

The stakeholder survey that is cited in support of this massive data collection program, asks questions such as whether users want to see a reduction in costs, reduced fraud, fewer audits and enhanced credibility. Much of these are motherhood and apple pie issues, where of course the survey respondents would say they are desirable. 

The MSC says the program, after further consultation and review and approval by the Board, would be voluntary in 2017 and have a mandatory roll-out in 2018. 

This would mean that any MSC chain of custody holder would have to report monthly – mostly with automated software – the sales volume and customers of all MSC products. 

Normally when sensitive business data is collected by an organization, especially a government or a bank, there is a very strict accountability about confidentiality and use of data.

For example, in the US, there are numerous laws protecting the confidentiality of business information for tax purposes, and of economic data collected by the National Marine Fisheries Service, all of which give businesses legal recourse to prevent abuse, and also result in fines and possible jail terms for officials that violate mandated confidentiality. NMFS for example, will not even report the volumes of catch for individual fisheries where there are less than 3 quota holders, to protect confidentiality. 

The problem with the MSC holding such sensitive data in such a visible database is the lack of accountability that comes from it being an International organization that claims only to work through CAB’s – conformity assessment bodies. 

The weakness of the MSC was highlighted during the current Alaska salmon season when a rogue client openly violated all MSC guidelines and rules regarding certificate sharing, and the MSC said they were totally powerless to take any action. Why should they be trusted to spend the resources and time necessary to secure sensitive chain of custody data when they will not secure compliance with their own rules by client groups through setting up accountability measures. 

Imagine the employee of a certifier in Russia, lets say, who is bribed to reveal the database of all export transactions of a rival company – i. e. all its customers and volumes of sales. The MSC has no control over this. Yes they can decertify the CAB, or the CAB can fire the employee, but the value of the information could be much greater than a simple job or contract.

It is a fair question to ask the industry that given the track record of interactions with the MSC, would they trust the organization with 100% visibility to all their sales and operations.

The other potential avenue of abuse is the visibility it gives the MSC into sales of all products from a fishery not going to MSC oriented customers. 

For example, full visibility of sales from the Norwegian Barents Sea cod fishery could determine what percentage of the fishery – which is 100% MSC certified, is going to customers who don’t pay for the MSC certification. This could give the MSC sales teams leverage to go to these companies, and or their suppliers, to suggest they join the MSC fishery ecosystem.

This is where such a database could entrench the MSC as a permanent seafood monopoly. Major retailers such as Metro and Ahold have committed through GSSI – the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative – to move towards a benchmark sustainability standard that would be open to all scheme owners that met the basic requirements. It would lessen the role of private standards owners, and prevent the perversion of a conservation scheme into a arms race between standards owners to add features and requirements. 

But if the MSC database required full visibility from every MSC fishery – through the mandatory requirement for chain of custody holders – the MSC would have an effective weapon to cripple attempts to use other certification schemes. 

At that point the MSC would have data to favor its friends, and punish its enemies. 

This is what a sample screen from the Database looks like. 

Of course, the MSC claims that their global data system would be very secure. But in a world where even Pentagon and IRS computers are vulnerable to hacking, the most secure option is not to create such a database in the first place. 

Those companies that want full visibility up and down the supply chain should continue to contract with private traceability companies who can provide it. Putting the MSC into the traceability business, with a mandatory program, is a recipe for disaster. 

The MOTS program is currently being tested and piloted, and there is a public consultation period now open. 

Unfortunately, unlike GSSI and the US government, and other international bodies, the MSC does not promise full transparency for comments received during the consultation, but will only provides a summary in their decision memorandum. 

Therefore the only way this program is likely to be derailed is through the MSC stakeholder committees, especially those representing major fisheries such as Norwegian and Icelandic cod and haddock, or Alaska pollock and Alaska salmon.

These stakeholders will have to make clear that the MSC must remain in a limited role, and not enter into the global traceability business. The MSC has already said its system is 99% effective. 

The best guarantee of robust traceability is to certify entire fisheries, and have open and expansive rules for gaining certificates of custody. For example, in Iceland all the certificates are held by a non-profit body that makes them available to the entire industry. 

In Alaska, the new client for salmon, the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, also holds the certificate in trust so all users who qualify can easily use it.

Since Alaskan, Icelandic, Norwegian, New Zealand and many other major fisheries are fully certified, there is no additional benefit to add the mandatory global reporting to fight fraud in these fisheries. 

Where it is an issue is where the MSC is attempting to certify a small part of a questionable fishery. For example, MSC tuna certifications are questionable because the widespread use of FAD’s means most of the fishing is not qualified for MSC – yet the demand for the label creates pressure for fraud, and the claim a tuna is FAD free when it is not. 

In this case, private traceability systems, such as that implemented by longliner NORPAC where every tuna and swordfish can be traced back to the individual longline vessel, can easily accomplish the goal. 

We think the mandatory global database for monthly reporting of all seafood transactions by chain of custody holders is a step too far, and hope the MSC board and stakeholders will see this for the overreach that it is. 

To participate in the comment system, please go here: 

In the interests of transparency, we will also be happy to reprint a certain number of comments from companies and organizations on this proposal. Just send us a copy.  This proposal certainly deserves an industry wide debate.

This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.