The study says that the organisations that provide sustainable fisheries information to consumers and the supply chain concludes, with regard to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) compliance, MSC makes the most comprehensive, robust, and transparent assessment of performance.
The study, Behind the Signs – A Global Review of Fish Sustainability Information, co-authored by nine leaders from the UN FAO, academia, seafood councils and a leading consultant, was published recently in the scientific journal, Reviews in Fisheries Science. The study comprehensively examined 17 recommendation lists and ecolabel programs worldwide, including the Marine Stewardship Council.
The authors said that a market-based approach has shown promise in promoting fishery sustainability, while government-run programs largely have not been effective. The MSC global standard for the certification of wild capture fisheries catalyzes change on the water through market-based forces.
The study also states that the critical importance of accuracy, independence, transparency, standardization and stakeholder involvement in certification programs, and it examined all 17 programs on the basis of FAO’s minimum substantive requirements, which are: status of the stock, ecosystem impacts and the management system. In each instance, the MSC program was highly regarded.
