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The recent decision by the MSC's Board of Trustees not to extend the MSC's remit to include aquaculture has been generally well received by stakeholders. Although there are some who say this is a missed opportunity, the majority recognise that the MSC is best served by keeping its focus on the challenge of wild capture fisheries. This task is considerable, as we were reminded by the recent predictions that seafood stocks could collapse by 2048 if present trends continue. Although many have said that this dire scenario will be averted, there is no doubt that the public has woken up to an issue and tough questions about sustainable practices will increase. For those fisheries that wish to stand out as sustainable and well managed, the MSC offers a practical and supportive programme that brings multiple benefits and rewards.
Rupert Howes
Chief Executive
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NEWS IN BRIEF |
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FAO consistency
The MSC is now the only eco-labelling organisation that is fully consistent with UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's guidelines for the eco-labelling of fisheries and fish products.
Find out more at http://www.msc.org/html/ni_241.htm
Aquaculture
The MSC Board has decided not to expand the scope of the programme to include the certification of aquaculture.
Environmental Benefits
An expert workshop was held in London as a follow up to the recent report which analysed the environmental benefits of the MSC programme. A consultation report will be circulated in early 2007 to seek comments on evaluation approaches.
Further information available from International Policy Director rich.lincoln@msc.org.
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| INSIDE MSC |
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Is our website OK?
The MSC is reviewing its online presence and a prize is available to users taking part in our online web survey. If you have used the MSC site - or if you find it difficult to use - let us know what you think. Take part in our short and simple online survey before 31 December 2006 and you could win a bundle of MSC goodies.
Click here to complete the survey now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=827662965666
Changes to Fish4Thought
From January this e-bulletin will be shorter and will be issued alternate months to keep you up to date with MSC news.
Stakeholder Council and BOard changes
Dr Uwe Scholtz of GTZ Germany joined the MSC's Stakeholder Council in July 2006. Professor Cathy Roheim and Annie Jarrett joined the Board as Stakeholder Council Co-chairs in June 2006. Margaret Wittenburg, formerly Stakeholder Council Co-Chair, became a permanent member of the Board. The Board accepted the resignation of Chris Nissen in November 2006, and from Scott Burns who will leave the MSC Board at the end of December 2006.
Who's who?
Four new staff join the MSC team in our London and Seattle offices. Welcome to Deb Trefts who joins as Americas Fisheries Outreach Manager based in Seattle. In London, the communications team has been boosted with the arrival of Alli Barnes, MSC's Information Officer, and James Simpson, Communications Officer. Nicola Ninnes also joins the central services team in London.
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| MEET THE TEAM |
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28-31 January, Sustainable Seafood Summit, Jacksonville, Florida.
20/21 and 27/28 January, Gruene Woche, Berlin.
Visit us at the Fisch-Informationszentrum in hall 14.1, stand 101.
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IN THIS ISSUE...
* 76% rise in retail value of MSC-labelled fish
* MSC wins Green Award for business communication
* USA overtakes Switzerland as leading market
* Boost to sustainable choices in Japan
* Green light for Chilean seabass at WFM
* MSC invests in quality and consistency
* More fisheries seek MSC certificate
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76% rise in retail value of MSC-labelled fish
New information about sales of MSC-labelled products has revealed that the retail value for the year 2005/06 was an estimated $235,661,285 - a 76 per cent increase on the previous year. The news is reported in the MSC's new Annual Report 2005/06 which illustrates key moments in a year that saw the greatest number of fishery certifications and fisheries entering assessment than any previous year. The report also presents some of the milestone projects underway at the MSC, including the drive to measure environmental benefits and to raise awareness of the programme with fisheries, seafood businesses and consumers. At the end of March 2006, the total number of MSC-labelled products was 332, but today this has already risen to 472, indicating that the current trend of growth is set to continue.
Download the MSC's annual report 2005/06 |
Chairman Will Martin describes the MSC's new Annual Report as a 'dramatic portrait' of progress. |
MSC wins Green Award for business communication
In a glitzy green ceremony at London's Guildhall, the MSC's Fish & Kids project won a prestigious Green Award for creativity in sustainability. Beating tough competition in the Best Business To Business Direct Mail category, the MSC's entry was commended by the judges for the way it "perfectly targeted its audience, giving them the facts and figures they needed to decide how best to implement their buying strategy with regard to sustainable fish". Fish & Kids is the MSC's project to help schools to serve sustainable, MSC-labelled seafood and to teach children about solutions to the problem of overfishing. The award was given for the letter and sample education pack sent from project manager Laura Stewart to Local Education Authority caterers inviting them to take part in the Fish and Kids project and improve the sustainability of school meals. Working with foodservice provider Brakes, Fish & Kids means over a million MSC-labelled fish sticks will be served in English schools over the next year, as well as a variety of other sustainable options, and interest from the public sector is growing fast. In November the London Borough of Tower Hamlets announced all of its primary schools will be serving MSC-labelled fish, and several other local authorities are showing strong interest in joining the Fish & Kids project.
Fish&Kids wins environmental award
Sustainable lunch helps pupils focus on 'green' fish
Fish and Kids website: www.fishandkids.org |
The MSC was recognised by the Green Awards judging panel for high quality targeted communications.
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USA overtakes Switzerland as leading market
The greatest choice of MSC-labelled products is now available in America following a rapid increase in use of the MSC eco-label by seafood brands and retailers. For five years Switzerland has offered consumers the largest number of sustainable MSC-labelled seafood products, but in October America overtook Switzerland's 75 products and is currently leading the world with a choice of 93 lines. The products include halibut fillets on the wet fish counter at Whole Foods Market, pre-packed surimi in Wal-Mart, and Trident's premium wild Alaska salmon burgers. "For the first time American consumers can choose from a wide range of MSC-labelled products, meaning that anyone can be part of the drive for ocean-friendly seafood. That's a great achievement for all the companies that have worked to move the American market forward," said Jim Humphreys, Director of the MSC's Americas regional office. Meanwhile, Europe is fighting back. In October, German processor Deusche See launched 19 MSC-labelled products, including several foodservice options, and the Lidl retail chain also began offering MSC-labelled products in its German stores.
Where to buy MSC-labelled seafood |
American consumers can now choose from a wide range of sustainable seafood products with the MSC eco-label. |
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Boost to sustainable choices in Japan
The Japanese retail market has signalled it is ready for the MSC, with two retailers launching MSC-labelled products and a new MSC website published in Japanese to answer questions from the public and the seafood industry. The first retailer to offer MSC labelled fish was Kamewa Shouten in Tokyo, followed in November by Aeon, Japan's leading retailer, releasing ten products from four certified fisheries - Alaska salmon, Alaska pollock, Pacific cod and New Zealand hoki. Responding to this high level of interest, the MSC has established a liaison office in Japan, currently run by consultancy Fulford Enterprises, to provide a local contact point.
Contact the Japan liaison office at japan@msc.org
MSC's Japanese website: www.msc.org/jp |
Aeon launched ten new MSC-labelled products in Japan. |
Green light for Chilean seabass at WFM
Patagonian toothfish - also known as Chilean seabass - will be known to many as the focus of the campaign to 'take a pass on Chilean seabass', triggered by concerns about widespread illegal fishing of this slow-growing species. Two years ago, the fishers of one Patagonian toothfish fishery in South Georgia proved that their fishery met the MSC's strict environmental standard, but it took a further year for the fishery to implement systems that ensure only fish from the certified fishery would carry the MSC's eco-label. Now that traceability is secured, US retailer Whole Foods Market has brought MSC-certified Chilean seabass back to its shelves - with the MSC eco-label clearly displayed - and has published an information leaflet to explain its confidence in the fishery. The message to consumers is clear - look for the MSC label if you want to be sure this fish comes from a sustainable source!
Find out more about the return of South Georgia Patagonian toothfish |
Identifying legal and sustainable Chilean seabass is possible for the first time with the MSC eco-label.
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MSC invests in quality and consistency
Experts gathered in New York in October to conclude a series of workshops aimed at improving the quality and consistency of MSC fishery assessments. The workshops have been taking place throughout the year as the first phase of a substantial project to equip the MSC for the future as more fisheries seek MSC certification and more certification bodies are accredited to undertake fishery assessments. The focus of the workshops was the development of detailed descriptions of the 'intent' of each of the 23 criteria that together make up the core principles of the MSC's standard. A consultation document reporting progress of this phase of the project is expected in early 2007. The next step in the project is to develop operational guidance for certification bodies in building assessment trees for the assessment of fisheries.
Find out more about the Quality and Consistency project. |
The first phase of the Quality and Consistency project concluded at a workshop in New York. |
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More fisheries seeking MSC certificates
Congratulations to the Lake Hjälmaren pikeperch fishery in southern Sweden for achieving MSC certification. The fishery is the world's first freshwater fishery and the first Swedish fishery to meet the MSC's environmental standard. Three fisheries also entered full assessment in recent months - the Canadian northern prawn fishery, the Gulf of St. Lawrence northern shrimp fishery and the Gulf of California sardine fishery in Mexico. Part of the sardine catch is used to supply the aquaculture market, and if the outcome of the assessment process is successful, this could lead to the first MSC certified fish feed product. In other fishery news, the objection to the re-certification of New Zealand hoki continues, and an independent Objections Panel Chairman has been appointed to oversee this process. Finally, the Loch Torridon nephrops fishery in Scotland - first certified in 2003 - has embarked on the re-assessment process. This continues the trend of certified fisheries to seek re-certification when their initial five-year certificate expires, and is a signal of the success of the MSC programme. There are now 21 fisheries certified, 19 in full assessment and a further 20-30 fisheries undertaking confidential pre-assessment.
http://www.msc.org/assets/docs/fishery_certification/Fisheries_Dec06.pdf |
The certification of the Lake Hjälmaren fishery marks the first freshwater fishery to meet the MSC standard. |
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