The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has today released its annual report, marking 15 years since the program was launched to reward and incentivising sustainable fishing.
The 2014-15 Annual Report, Celebrating 15 years of certified sustainable seafood, showcases the industry leaders who are working to safeguard seafood supplies for the future.
Key figures from the report
MSC certified sustainable fisheries now catch:
- Nearly 9 million metric tonnes of seafood
- Almost 10% of the total global wild-caught seafood supply
Nearly half (45.9%) of the global whitefish catch
MSC certified products and businesses:
- Over 17,000 products with the MSC ecolabel sold by seafood retailers and restaurants
- Over 34,000 business locations hold MSC Chain of Custody, ensuring a traceable global supply chain
“This growth and momentum, through the leadership of our partners, is driving lasting change in the way our oceans are fished, rewarding good practice and catalysing improvements where needed to meet the growing global demand for certified sustainable seafood” says MSC CEO, Rupert Howes.
Strengthened standards and evidence of positive change
This year, the MSC updated its Fisheries Standard, ensuring it reflects the latest science and best management practices.
A growing evidence base, captured in the 2015 Global Impacts Report, also shows MSC certified fisheries are maintaining healthy fish populations and effectively managing their impacts on habitats and ecosystems.
“The MSC is a learning organisation and we’ve invested heavily in strengthening the rigour of our program and building our evidence base on how our partners are delivering positive outcomes for our oceans” adds Mr Howes.
Commitments in the commercial market
On the market side, the report acknowledges the bold global commitment by IKEA to only sell and serve certified sustainable seafood throughout its more than 370 stores. The Iglo Group’s 100% sustainable fish commitment is also highlighted.
This year also marked the MSC’s arrival in South Korea thanks to seafood processor Hansung and Lotte Mart, the country’s largest retailer.
“Market demand for sustainable seafood is helping to drive positive change in how our oceans are fished and managed. As more retailers and processors choose MSC certified seafood, other fisheries are encouraged into MSC assessment to meet the opportunities that higher demand for sustainable seafood can deliver” adds Mr Howes.
Pioneering fisheries in Asia and the Northern Hemisphere
In 2014-15, 40 new fisheries achieved MSC certification and over 70 entered full assessment. These fisheries included artisanal fishing communities alongside large scale commercial fishing operations.
The report highlights two pioneers, the first certified fisheries in India and China - the Ashtamudi clam and Zoneco scallop fisheries. Around 1,000 people depend on the Kerala-based clam fishery for their livelihoods. The Chinese scallop fishery employs more than 20,000 fishers through a cooperative, and covers more than half a million hectares of the North Yellow Sea.
Two decades on from the collapse of the Grand Banks cod fishery in Newfoundland, the report highlights the commitments of fisheries in the Northern Hemisphere. These fisheries are helping ensure the ongoing productivity of northern waters: 97% Canadian Atlantic lobster is now MSC certified; 87% of Alaska’s fisheries, by volume, are MSC certified; and the Iceland Sustainable Fisheries group is seeking MSC certification for all its commercial fisheries.
Consumers in close to 100 countries can now choose from more than 100 different certified seafood species, with an estimated US$4.5 billion spent globally by consumers on MSC labelled products in 2014-15.