It is no doubt that the MSC eco-labelling process has been the focus of renewed attacks from both scientists and environmentalists for its use of commercial consultants, paid by the industry. Since its inception MSC has certified almost 60 fisheries to be sustainable with a further more than 100 in the process of being assessed.
According to the critics the applicants pay commercial firms to do the assessments raise doubts about the fairness and the objectivity of the process. The latest batch of criticism comes after the Moody Marine consulting firm, a company that makes about one half of all MSC evaluations globally, recently recommended certification of the toothfish fishery in the sensitive Antarctic Ross Sea.
There has been strong criticism from scientists as well as from NGO Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and its member organizations. The groups are planning to appeal the recommendation, but it should be noted that over the ten years MSC has been operating, no such objection from outside groups during the certification process has ever led to a rejection.
ASOC Executive Director Jim Barnes to the IntraFish news organization, said that they are really upset that the MSC has decided to get involved where there is so little information and a lot of controversy. He added that scientists consulted on the assessment “weren’t given any credence by Moody Marine, they feel like they were treated like high school students”.
It is told that MSC is legitimizing unsustainable fisheries that have massive negative impacts on the climate by giving the fish consumer a false eco-label for fish and fish products.
