The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) has welcomed confirmation from MarinTrust that a two-year extension has been granted to its innovative North East Atlantic blue whiting Fishery Improvement Project (FIP). Launched in 2021, and originally planned to run for three years, the FIP aims to drive improvements in the management of the blue whiting fishery.
Accordong to NAPA, despite its substantial advocacy efforts, coastal states continue to prioritise individual interests over the sustainable management of this important stock, ignoring the voice of the global marketplace.
‘This extension is important recognition of the vital role the marketplace can play in driving improvements in fisheries sustainability, though we are frustrated it was necessary after three years of advocacy. The issue is fundamentally political, and so must be the solution,’ said fisheries analyst Fiona Birch, who is supporting NAPA.
‘This marks the beginning of a new phase for NAPA. Over the next two years, we will deepen our research on the vital importance of blue whiting, develop and advocate for political solutions, and intensify our push for a comprehensive quota-sharing agreement among the nations involved. NAPA is now stronger and more determined than ever to use this extension and the power of the marketplace to break the political impasse. We’ll be sharing more updates on our refreshed approach in the coming weeks.’
MarinTrust reviewed and approved the request for the FIP extension following a thorough and transparent third-party process. The extension is conditional on complying with regular reporting requirements. It is important to note that MarinTrust’s Improver Programme is not a sustainable fisheries certification. Instead, it provides a pathway for fisheries that haven’t yet met certification standards to make the necessary improvements to move towards certification in the future.
