Sustainable fishing: Sustainable seafood
© WWF-Canon / Edward PARKER
Promoting sustainable seafood products
WWF's Marine programme is promoting economic incentives, consumer initiatives, and trade management measures that encourage sustainable fisheries.
Whats on your plate?
A major focus of work involves supporting the activities of the Marine Stewardship Council - an independent organization that recognizes, via a certification programme, sustainable marine fisheries and their products.
To add further momentum to the MSC's work, in 2005 WWF established a Sustainable Seafood Choices project aimed at the retail and market end of the seafood industry. In partnership with other NGOs, the project combines advocacy, strategic partnerships, and communications to raise the profile of sustainable seafood products with consumers and markets, and provide guidance on their procurement.
The work includes:
- Engaging fisheries in MSC certification
- Working with the entire fishing industry
- Providing consumer guides
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
After years of seemingly failed government attempts to halt the world fisheries crisis, in 1996 WWF and Unilever, one of the world's biggest buyers of frozen fish, started an initiative to change the way fish are caught, marketed, and bought - and ensure the future of the world's fisheries.
Now an independent, non-profit organization, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) works with fisheries, retailers, and other stakeholders to identify, certify, and promote responsible, environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable fishing practices around the world.
New standards
To fulfill this ambitious task, the MSC developed a standard for assessing and certifying fisheries. This standard - known as the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing - is the only internationally recognized set of environmental principles to assess whether a fishery is well managed and sustainable. It is based on the best scientific data and the latest knowledge about the marine environment, and was developed in conjunction with relevant stakeholders in a two-year global consultation process.
Eco-label
Only products from fisheries assessed by independent certifiers as meeting the standard are able to use the MSC logo on their products. For the first time, this gives consumers a way to identify - and the choice to purchase - fish and other seafood from well-managed sources.
A good idea is now reality
The MSC has witnessed an enormous groundswell of support, including from retailers, governments, non-governmental organizations, conservationists, and the fishing industry. Over 20 fisheries around the world are now certified, representing over 4% of global wild fisheries production for human consumption. These include:
- Alaskan pollock from the US - the world's largest fishery
- Alaskan salmon from the US
- Cockles from Wales
- Herring from the UK
- Mackerel from the UK
- Rock lobster from Western Australia
- Hoki from New Zealand
- Langoustine (Norway lobster) from Scotland
- Patagonian toothfish from the South Atlantic Ocean
- Spiny lobster from Mexico
- Hake from South Africa
- Pacific cod from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
- Mackerel icefish from Australia
Another 30 or so fisheries are currently undergoing assessment, and over 100 major seafood buyers have pledged to purchase MSC-certified seafood products, including large supermarket chains in France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
Overall, there are currently around 400 MSC-certified fish products on sale in 26 countries - ranging from fresh, frozen, smoked, and canned fish to fish oil dietary supplements. Consumer access to sustainable seafood products is now a reality.
Further information:
- Report: MSC Annual report 2004/05 (pdf)
- Factsheet: Working the market (pdf)
- Website: Marine Stewardship Council
- Summary: MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing
