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Our Global Accessibility Program aims to ensure the MSC program and its benefits are accessible to all fisheries, regardless of size or region.
The fishing industry is critically important in the developing world:
However, many fisheries in developing countries operate in areas where catch levels and threats to marine biodiversity and local economies are high.The MSC recognises that these fisheries can often face additional challenges when becoming sustainable and MSC certified, these may include:
Through our experience working in developing countries, we're able to identify challenges and work on solutions to overcome them.
We engage with a wide range of stakeholders including governments, non-governmental organisations, the fishing industry and seafood businesses to raise awareness of our program. In 2015 we established the Global Fisheries Sustainability Fund, which has so far awarded more than £400,000 in funding to research projects that support critical fishery science research in small scale and developing world fisheries.
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To ensure the MSC Fisheries Standard is applicable to small-scale and developing country fisheries we have developed guidance for clarifying how informal and traditional management approaches should be considered in assessments.
We have also developed tools to identify the gaps and barriers that fisheries experience. We provide toolkits and training to equip stakeholders in developing countries with the knowledge and skills required to implement successful Fishery Improvement Projects. Developing world fisheries account for around 8% of the total of MSC certified fisheries and 11% of fisheries in assessment. More than 40 developing world fisheries have had pre-assessment and/or are engaging in a Fishery Improvement Project with partners.
We also seek to ensure that the perspectives of small-scale and data-deficient fisheries are considered in MSC policy development. We encourage stakeholders to provide input and shape MSC policy during our public consultation periods.
Head of Global Accessibility Program
Senior Accessibility Manager
Project Manager
Support Officer
Or contact us at globalaccessibility@msc.org
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The MSC recognises the important contribution that FIPs can make to improving overall fisheries health and in promoting sustainable seafood. We work to provide technical support and capacity to credible FIPs.
To ensure the MSC program is accessible to all, we developed a methodology for the assessment of data-deficient fisheries : the Risk-Based Framework.
Fund supporting critical research and projects, aimed at strengthening knowledge and capacity to assist small scale and developing world fisheries
We support fisheries improving towards MSC certification through building the capacity of stakeholders and fisheries scientists in developing countries.
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