Press release

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has received two objections to the recommendation of independent assessor, MRAG Americas, to certify the Australia Orange Roughy Eastern Zone Trawl fishery to the MSC Fisheries Standard.  

Input from a wide range of stakeholders is vital throughout the assessment process. It ensures the independent assessment team take all available information into account when deciding if a fishery is or is not sustainable. 

Objections raised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) will be reviewed by an independent adjudicator following the formal process for objections.   

Patrick Caleo, Asia Pacific Director at the Marine Stewardship Council, said:  
“The historic overfishing of orange roughy globally in the 1980s and 1990s shows why it is important to understand and incentivise the sustainable management of fisheries. 

“Only fisheries which ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks, minimise impacts on marine ecosystems and populations of other species encountered by the fishery, and are well-managed, achieve MSC certification. 

“MSC assessments are conducted by an independent assessment team who use a detailed, transparent and rigorous process to reach evidence-based conclusions. Keep updated on the Australia Orange Roughy Eastern Zone Trawl fishery, with all evidence and decisions published at msc.org.” 



Notes to editors 
Documentation for the assessment of the Australia Orange Roughy Eastern Zone Trawl fishery is published on the MSC website, including objections.  

Independent assessment: The MSC does not carry out the assessments or make recommendations for whether a fishery should be certified. Any wild fishery, except for those using poisons or explosives, can ask an accredited independent body to assess its operations to see if it meets the MSC standard for sustainable fishery. Fisheries are assessed to the MSC Fisheries Standard by a team of experts from an independent conformity assessment body (CAB). This is in accordance with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) guidelines and requirements set by ISEAL, the association for international credible standards setters. As part of this process, the MSC requires the CAB to seek and address input from all stakeholders. This is to ensure an unbiased, fair decision is reached. Assessment to the MSC Fisheries Standard includes the opportunity for stakeholders to contribute throughout the process. 

Objections: The final stages of all assessments include the opportunity for stakeholders who feel that their previous points have not been effectively addressed in the assessors’ findings to raise an objection to a recommendation to certify the fishery. Objections are reviewed by an independent adjudicator following a formal objections procedure. The independent adjudicator is a legal expert, who has extensive legal and mediation experience as well as an understanding of the MSC Fisheries Standard and assessment methodology. Find out more about the objections procedure. 

MRAG Americas, Inc. is the independent assessor responsible for assessing the Australia Orange Roughy Eastern Zone Trawl fishery to the MSC Fisheries Standard. mragamericas.com 

The New Zealand Orange Roughy fishery was certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard in 2016. Read about the extraordinary turnaround of this fishery.