Livelihoods and communities
I was watching the guys unloading the fish and, for the first time in a long time, I saw hope in their eyes. One fisherman was talking about getting his son into the business, something I have never heard him say before.
Natalie Webster, MSC certifed albacore tuna fishery
Communities depend on the fishing industry...
- An estimated 200 million people are directly or indirectly employed in the fish and seafood industries.
- Fish is also an important source of food - worldwide 1 billion people, largely in developing countries, depend on fish as their primary source of protein (UN FAO).
For these people, sustainable fishing is a necessity, not a luxury. The alternative is economic collapse, poverty and hunger.
Overfishing and illegal fishing threaten livelihoods and food security worldwide. It is important that these vital seafood resources are protected. The MSC encourages responsible fisheries management and sustainable practices to protect the future of fishing communities.
... and on plentiful fish
The collapse of the Grand Banks cod fishery off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, had devastating economic impacts in the 1990s. Once catching up to 800,000 tonnes of fish a year, 40,000 livelihoods were lost as businesses closed and jobs disappeared when the cod were fished to the point of commercial extinction.
Sustainable fishing, sustainable communities
The North and South Pacific albacore tuna fishery operating form San Diego USA, achieved MSC certification in 2006. The local fishing community is experiencing a boost of commercial interest in their high quality product, which carries the MSC label. The blue MSC ecolabel allows you to support sustainable fishing practices and safeguard the future of fishing communities around the world. Find out where to buy MSC-labelled sustainable seafood.
