MSC Stakeholder Council welcomes new member, Abdul Ghofar

17 February 2012

Ecosystem and fisheries management expert, Dr Abdul Ghofar, was this week formally welcomed to the Stakeholder Council of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Dr Ghofar’s career includes advisory roles on effective management of marine resources to a number of international organisations. These include the UN Fisheries and Agricultural Organisation, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. He has also helped resource the 2009 meetings of the World Trade Organisation and  United Nations Environmental Programme. 

Welcoming Dr Ghofar, Alfred Schumm, Stakeholder Council co-Chair, said: "Our role, as Stakeholder Council members, is to provide the MSC Board with advice and guidance, from a variety of informed perspectives, about the operations of the MSC in pursuit of its mission.

"As the Council meets in Madrid to consider policy priorities for the forthcoming year, and the Board’s plans for the strategic direction of the MSC for the next five years, Dr Ghofar’s expertise will augment the quality of our discussions and the advice we can offer.  His expertise on the challenges of resource management in the Indonesian Coral Triangle region, for example, and his work with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and chairing the Commission for Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, has direct bearing on key strategic regions and species for the development of a global market for sustainable seafood."

The MSC Stakeholder Council is divided into two chambers: a public interest chamber, with representatives from academia, science, management and marine conservation organisations; and the commercial chamber, representing stakeholders from fisheries and all links in the supply chain.