As per the press brief issue by the Marine Stewardship Council the project Scottish Fisheries Outreach will encourage more fisheries to achieve recognition for their sustainable practices by becoming MSC-certified. It is said that through this project the awareness and access to MSC certificate would increase.
Any fishery can access to MSC certificate, the gold standard of sustainability, by providing more information through a dedicated outreach officer. It helps the consumers to know that the MSC eco-label is evidence of produce from a well-managed, sustainable fishery. It is told that the £200,000 project will be jointly funded by the Scottish Government and MSC. Scotland already accounts for almost one in ten of certified fisheries worldwide.
Commenting on this Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said that over half of all Scottish fisheries by value are now either MSC-certified or in the full assessment process and many more are on the road to achieving the gold standard of sustainability. This is hugely encouraging as the future health and viability of our fisheries is dependent on our stocks being harvested in a responsible manner.
Lochhead explained that sustainability sells products and more consumers than ever before are seeking a guarantee that the product they eat is from sustainable sources. He added that today’s markets want certification, and in these tough economic times it’s vital to ensure profitability of this important industry.
