About the Developing World Program
The MSC Developing World Program ensures that developing countries can access the conservation and economic benefits of MSC certification, and helps to safeguard fisheries as a reliable, long term source of food security.
The fishing industry is critically important in the developing world. Half of the world’s traded seafood comes from developing countries. Millions of people rely on seafood for an essential source of nutrition, and the World Bank estimate that the livelihoods of about 200 million people depend on fishing and associated activities. Ensuring fisheries remain healthy, productive and profitable is vital for millions of people living in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Developing World Program aims and activities
The aims of the MSC Developing World Program are to:
- raise awareness
- ensure the MSC certification is applicable to developing countries
- encourage fisheries to seek certification
We achieve these aims through following activities:
Engaging fisheries and stakeholders in the Developing World Program
We conduct outreach to stakeholders in the developing world, providing information and advice on the benefits of the program to fisheries, NGOs, governments and other stakeholders. This plays a vital role in improving access to the program for developing countries and small scale fisheries.
Building local and international partnerships
We help government and non-governmental organisations, the fishing industry, seafood businesses and other stakeholders work together and raise awareness of our certification and ecolabelling program to increase developing world fishery participation.
Ensuring the developing world is represented within MSC
We ensure that developing world perspectives and concerns are included throughout all sectors in the MSC including governance, policy direction and development, technical advice and standard improvement.
