Saving Seafood

MSC sets out strategy for expansion of sustainable seafood

April 26, 2023 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today set out its new strategy to support the growth of sustainable seafood.

Speaking at the MSC’s Seafood Futures Forum, Chief Executive, Rupert Howes, said that the not-for-profit standard setter would continue to maintain world-leading Standards for sustainable fishing while expanding market opportunities that incentivise more sustainable fishing globally. This strategy will see an increased focus on research and advocacy efforts which support MSC certified fisheries and those on their journey to sustainability. To help fisheries fund the improvements needed, the MSC is expanding its Ocean Stewardship Fund while also opening up its In-Transition to MSC programme to all fisheries.

“Climate change and overexploitation present an existential threat to our oceans and seafood supplies,” said Howes. “The last year has seen breakthroughs in a number of international agreements, including on ocean biodiversity which,  if implemented, could help safeguard our shared ocean. The MSC will support governments, industry, fishers, scientists and conservationists to build on this momentum and turn pledges into tangible progress.”

During the event, Professor Manuel Barange, Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) set out the importance of food from oceans, rivers and lakes in delivering the UN’s  Sustainable Development Goals in line with the its Blue Transformation agenda. “There is now wide acceptance across governments that aquatic foods will play a fundamental role in feeding a growing population while reducing carbon emissions and pressure on land-based sources of food – but only if it is produced in a sustainable way,” said Barange.“Emerging policies, investment and support for aquatic foods offer new opportunities for seafood businesses to transform the way they operate.”

At the event, MSC’s Chief Programme Officer, Nicolas Guichoux set out the recent trends and developments within fisheries and markets for sustainable seafood.  At the end of March 2023, 19% of the global seafood catch was either certified or in assessment to the MSC Standard with 42 new fisheries achieving MSC certification in the past year, representing 15 different species. Tuna and pollock remain the dominant certified species. In addition, fisheries in Latin America and Indonesia have seen significant improvement. Tunacons in Ecuador, for example, achieved MSC certification for the first time in 2022 following a 5 year fisheries improvement project.

The value of MSC labelled sales continues to increase (up 9% from 1 April 2022). There has been significant growth in sustainable seafood sales in Southern Europe, North America and Japan as a result of increased commitments by important companies such as Lidl, Findus, Bolton and Walmart.

“Increasing consumer awareness of the impact that food has on the planet is influencing retailers’ sourcing policies and therefore the way the ocean is fished,” said Guichoux. To support this transformation, in June, the MSC will launch a new campaign “It all starts here” for World Ocean Day 2023 and 2024. It is encouraging the seafood community and consumers alike to join the campaign to support a healthy, thriving  ocean.

 

MSC sets goal of mobilizing USD 100 million to protect ocean resources

April 13, 2023 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has set an “ambitious” goal of an USD 100 million (EUR 91 million) expansion of its Ocean Stewardship Fund.

The fund, the MSC said, has a main goal of ending overfishing, and will help “safeguard the ocean” along with supplies of sustainable seafood. The organization is encouraging philanthropic organizations, businesses, and governments to contribute to the fund to assist a range of fisheries research and innovation.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ISSF aims for full MSC certification from participating companies

April 11, 2023 — The newest strategic plan from the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is keeping Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification as a central tenant as the organization advocates for more sustainable wild-caught seafood.

The ISSF Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, “Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability,” was released 28 February, 2023. The plan highlights ISSF research, advocacy, and its approach to achieving tuna fishery sustainability in participating companies for the next five years, including full implementation of a plan for MSC certification.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MSC scales up fund to help end overfishing

April 11, 2023 — The following was released by Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today announced an ambitious goal to mobilise US$100 million to help safeguard the ocean and sustainable seafood supplies over the next decade. The announcement marks a significant expansion of the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund which aims to end overfishing.

Philanthropic organisations, businesses and governments are encouraged to contribute to the fund, which has already delivered more than 100 grants, including almost 40 in emerging economies.  These funds assist a wide range of fisheries and invest in research and innovation to improve fishing practices on the water.

Beneficiaries have included Indonesian fishers adapting to the impacts of climate change on blue swimming crabs, South African fisheries reducing bird bycatch, and artisanal fishers in the Mediterranean trialling new technology to protect stingrays. A new project to assess the risks of climate change for wild-capture fisheries and help them to adapt in the future has also received funding.

The challenge facing the ocean is enormous. Consumption of seafood is rising rapidly whilst over a third of global fish stocks are being exploited at unsustainable levels. The pressures of feeding a burgeoning global population, combined with the detrimental effects of climate change demands stronger, urgent action, hence the scale-up of the Ocean Stewardship Fund.

The MSC is a world-leader in knowledge and expertise of sustainable fishing. It has 25 years of experience of promoting and delivering progress globally, with over 600 fisheries engaged in its certification programme. Since 2018 the not for profit has committed to allocate 5% of the income it generates from licensing the use of the MSC ecolabel on sales of sustainable seafood to the Ocean Stewardship Fund. The fund opened to third-party donations in 2022.

Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC, said: “In the five years since its creation, the Ocean Stewardship Fund has supported an impressive range of projects, including many innovative collaborations between fisheries and scientists.  We are extremely grateful to our funders, partners and supporters who share our vision of a healthy thriving ocean. If we want to enjoy seafood today and into the future, we need to respond to the scale of the challenges facing the ocean. By mobilising US$100 million over ten years, we can support many more communities and businesses around the world which are reliant on the ocean for food, security and livelihoods.” 

The MSC has already received generous philanthropic donations for the fund from the MAVA Foundation and Hans Wilsford Foundation, as well as from the Walton Family Foundation for a loan guarantee facility. Expanding the Ocean Stewardship Fund, in collaboration with environmental investment advisory firm Clarmondial, will enable the MSC to help more fisheries, particularly small-scale producers and those in emerging economies to realise the benefits of sustainable fishing.

SSF report finds majority of tuna stocks don’t meet Marine Stewardship Council standard

April 2, 2023 — A new report by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has found that only eight of 23 major commercial tuna stocks avoid overfishing and maintain biomass targets when measured against Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards.

The report, “An Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council Criteria,” found that only Western Atlantic skipjack, North Atlantic albacore, South Atlantic albacore, Eastern Atlantic bluefin, Western Pacific skipjack, Eastern Pacific yellowfin, Eastern Pacific skipjack, and Indian Ocean skipjack achieve a passing score for “sustainable fish stocks” when measured against MSC criteria. According to ISSF, an increased number of stocks failed to meet the MSC standard because managing bodies failed to implement harvest-control rules within the past year.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MSC calls on coastal states to “act decisively” on Northeast Atlantic mackerel quotas

March 26, 2023 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is calling on coastal states that harvest Northeast Atlantic mackerel to secure a long-term quota-sharing agreement as the deadline to make a decision approaches.

A number of fisheries in the North Atlantic have had their MSC certifications suspended due to coastal states in the region failing to set quotas low enough to align with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). North Atlantic mackerel was one of the species that lost MSC certification due to ongoing management issues.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

HAWAII: Hawaii longliners land swordfish under new MSC certification

March 7, 2023 — Hawaii’s longline fleet has been in full swing since January, in the first season since the fishery was certified sustainable by the globally recognized Marine Stewardship Council, according to the Hawaii Longline Association.

“Hawaii-landed swordfish has always been a high-quality option for seafood lovers,” said Mike Goto, auction manager of United Fishing Agency Ltd., according to a statement from association this week. “The landed quality and size of fish, as well as the diverse culinary preparations for swordfish, really make it a premium seafood product.”

“The fishery is among the most highly monitored and strictly regulated fisheries on Earth,” said Eric Kingma, executive director of the Hawaii Longline Association. “We have 100 percent federal observer coverage, satellite-based vessel monitoring, daily at-sea electronic reporting, and other requirements including protected species mitigation measures. With our recent MSC certification, consumers can be more confident than ever that the Hawaii swordfish they enjoy is harvested in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

MSC partners with Non-GMO Project and Fairtrade America to launch “Little Labels, Big Impact” campaign

January 12, 2023 — The Marine Stewardship Council, the Non-GMO Project, and Fairtrade America have joined forces to launch a campaign to promote the contribution of third-party certification labels on food products in ensuring sustainable and resilient food systems.

The “Little Labels, Big Impact” campaign will run through January 2023, MSC said in a press release.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Ocean Stewardship Fund halfway to US$10million funding goal

December 14, 2022 — The following was released by Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today announced that its Ocean Stewardship Fund which supports sustainable fishing globally, is more than halfway to its goal of mobilising US$10 million. 

The MSC, the not for profit responsible for the world’s leading programme for sustainable seafood certification and the bluefish tick label, launched its Ocean Stewardship Fund in 2018.  The Fund is a special funding vehicle which to date has been primarily supported by the MSC’s allocation of 5% of annual royalties received from sales of seafood with the MSC blue label.

In 2021-22, with support from the environmental investment company, Clarmondial, the MSC sought to more than double the funds available for the Ocean Stewardship Fund through third-party funding.

Third-party funders supporting the Ocean Stewardship Fund include the MAVA Fondation Pour La Nature which has given US$791,000 for projects in West Africa and the Mediterranean, the Walton Family Foundation which has contributed a US$1 million grant to establish a Loan Guarantee Facility for fisheries certified or working towards the MSC’s globalstandard for sustainable fishing, and $US1.05 million unrestricted funding from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.

The MSC also received US$100,000 from the Global Environment Facility, via the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) which will boost US$243,000 already awarded by the Ocean Stewardship Fund for a project on climate change.

In 2022 the Ocean Stewardship Fund awarded US$854,000 towards projects including research which focuses on helping to safeguard marine biodiversity. At least half of the grants will support fisheries in developing economies, such as Indonesia, Mexico and India. The Fund has awarded around US$4.4 million in total grants.

This month, the Ocean Stewardship Fund also allocated funds for a new project to support Portuguese fisheries – 90% of which are small-scale – to improve their sustainability practises.

The MSC is calling on funders that want to secure the future of a thriving and healthy ocean, while also safeguarding seafood supplies and livelihoods, to help reach the milestone of US$10 million.

Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, said: “The Ocean Stewardship Fund is helping toaccelerate vital progress in understanding of and commitments to sustainable fishing. Grants awarded so far range from research into new technologies that reduce the impacts of fishing on wildlife, through to projects to rebuild fish stocks, tocommunity programmes to assess and identify opportunities for improvement. We are extremely grateful for the generous contributions made by the MAVA Foundation, Walton Family Foundation and Hans Wilsdorf Foundation who share our vision of healthy oceans teaming with life and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations. By scaling upthe Ocean Stewardship Fund we hope to accelerate progress in sustainable fishing, supporting greater collaboration and understanding between the fishing industry, governments, scientists and conservationists, for the benefit of us all.”

Breakthrough in Western Central Pacific points to a ‘sea change’ in international fisheries management

December 5, 2022 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today congratulated delegates of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for a significant breakthrough on the agreement of important measures to safeguard the world’s largest tuna stock.

Last week government representatives from the 26 member states of the WCPFC met face to face for the first time in three years in Da Nang, Vietnam. Agreement on harvest strategies – something which members had so far failed to achieve, despite many years of negotiation – is vital for securing the long-term health of tuna stocks as well as ongoing MSC certification.

At the conclusion of the meeting on Saturday 3rd December, delegates  reached agreement on a number of measures relating to harvest strategies.  These measures will now act as guiding principles for future fisheries management, creating a ‘safety net’ to allow tuna stocks to recover should they ever fall below currently sustainable levels.

Most significantly, the Commission agreed to adopt a harvest strategy for skipjack – the most abundant tuna species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to put in place harvest strategies for all tuna species before stocks fall below sustainable levels.

This follows a landmark agreement by the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) less than two weeks ago to adopt a harvest strategy for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Dr Rohan Currey, Chief Science & Standards Officer at the MSC who was in Vietnam for the Commission meeting said: “Multilateral agreements aren’t easy, especially when they cover some of the largest and most complex fisheries on the planet, so this is a significant accomplishment for all involved. With this new commitment from the WCPFC following just after the agreement on a harvest strategy for Atlantic bluefin, we may be  seeing an encouraging ‘sea change’ in multilateral fisheries management.

“The measures agreed by the WCPFC are a significant step forward in safeguarding some of the World’s most abundant and economically important tuna stocks. There is however still much work to be done to ensure effective harvest strategies are in place for all tuna stocks in the region. I encourage everyone involved to capitalise on to the momentum created in Da Nang to drive forward their plans to deliver further safeguards for tuna fisheries in the region over the coming years.“

The agreements reached in Da Nang will now be reviewed by the independent conformity assessment bodies (CABs) responsible for certifying 33 tuna fisheries in the WCPO to the MSC Fisheries Standard.

Tuna fisheries which continue to meet the minimum requirements of MSC certification will have the opportunity to adopt the new version  of the MSC Fisheries Standard early, giving them five years to meet new requirements for more comprehensive, state-of-the-art harvest strategies.