The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) [1] is pleased to announce that four fisheries in Africa and South America are kicking off a project to increase participation of small-scale and data-poor fisheries in its leading environmental certification programme. They will be joined by four more fisheries in due course.[2] The project will test the MSC’s new technical guidelines designed to help fisheries with limited scientific data show if they meet the MSC standard.[3] If the trials succeed they will pave the way for increased participation by developing countries in the MSC programme.
“Demand for eco-certified fish and seafood is high all over the world. Certification under the MSC programme could open doors to trade for these fisheries and contribute to long-term social, environmental and economic benefits in their communities,” says Oluyemisi Oloruntuyi, the MSC’s Developing World Programme Manager who is leading the project.
The fisheries participating in the trials include:[4]
– National Park of Banc d’Arguin mullet fishery in Mauritania
– Coastal and River Gambia sole fishery in Gambia
– Samborombon Bay mullet fishery in Argentina
– Mahi mahi fishery in Ecuador and Peru
The new guidelines introduce a risk assessment that can be initiated if fisheries lack full and complete scientific data for key environmental indicators needed to assess performance. The MSC’s conventional methodology draws on scientific data to produce sound and objective fishery assessments against the MSC standard. Many small fisheries, such as those taking part in the trial, are not in a position to provide comprehensive data sets. The aim of the new approach is to provide small-scale and data-deficient fisheries with an alternative route to certification against the MSC’s standard, while maintaining the scientific rigour that characterises the MSC programme.
Since 2005 the MSC has gathered expert opinion, through workshops and consultations, to develop the new risk-based approach. It complements the existing MSC methodology for fishery assessments. It will be tested by accredited independent certifiers as part of the MSC’s ‘Guidelines for the Assessment of Small-Scale and Data-Deficient Fisheries’ project.[5]
“We were being told that many fisheries were strong candidates for MSC certification but were not able to prove it using conventional scientific information. So we looked for a way to help them make their case. The new assessment guidelines will improve access for fisheries in the developing world, and still maintain the MSC’s robust standard,” says Oluyemisi Oloruntuyi. “If these fisheries become certified to the MSC standard they will be able to sell their catch to the growing number of eco-conscious processors and retailers all over the world. This project can help improve the livelihoods of fishing communities in developing countries.”
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) supports the co-management of the mullet fishery in Mauritania following an ecosystem approach. Matthieu Bernardon, Technical Advisor at IUCN, explains the fishery’s decision to participate in the trial assessments: “The Imraguen fishermen exploit the mullet stock in the Banc d’Arguin National Park very responsibly and with minimal impacts on the area’s ecosystem. They use sailing boats to get to the fishing grounds and encircle schools of mullet by foot – a very traditional fishing method. We see the MSC label as a credible tool for demonstrating the fishermen’s good environmental practices.”
Ousman Bojang, President at the Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development Agency, comments on the sole fishery in Gambia: “Consumers all over the world increasingly ask for seafood of environmentally sound origin. The Gambian sole fishery can offer this and certification to the MSC standard would help us attract new customers.”
Mariana Nancy Leiva, in charge of Protected Areas and Fisheries at CeDePesca, an NGO aiming at promoting sustainable fishing in Latin America, speaks for the Samborombon Bay mullet fishery: “We are working with the fishermen to increase their knowledge on sustainable fisheries management and to improve the fishery’s management under a participatory model. We really hope this new endeavour by the MSC will help encourage best practice and secure livelihoods in this small scale fishery.”
According to Ernesto Godelman, Chairman of CeDePesca, the mahi mahi fishery’s trial assessment means: “Many stakeholders working together in Ecuador and Peru to improve the fishery’s management and research. Managers, researchers, fishermen, exporters and NGOs are increasingly committing themselves to participate in the assessment process and to get the fishery to a certifiable status."
Meredith Lopuch, director of WWF-US’s Community Fisheries Program, says: “The MSC’s new approach to assessing data-poor fisheries will help make the eco-label more accessible for sustainable community fisheries. Fisheries from developing countries provide much of our global food supply, and it is important that they have the same opportunities for certification as larger, more industrial fisheries.”
As with other fishery assessments to the MSC standard, the pilots will be conducted by independent certifiers. Stakeholder input, especially from local communities, will be critical for gathering fishery-specific and ecological knowledge and thus enable the assessment teams to evaluate the impacts of fishing activities on the ecosystem. If the trials are successful the risk-based approach will be put to the MSC’s governing bodies for adoption and the fisheries will be eligible for certification to the MSC standard using this method.
