A United Nations (UN) report published today shows continued pressure on marine resources. The 2016 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report shows that global consumption of seafood is outpacing population growth, with per capita fish consumption increasing from an average of 9.9kg in the 1960s to 14.4kg in the 1990s and 19.7kg in 2013. Preliminary estimates for 2014 and 2015 point towards further growth beyond 20kg.
This increasing demand is having lasting impacts on our oceans. According to the UN FAO data, close to a third (31.4%) of global fish stocks are now being fished at unsustainable levels, and the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels has decreased from 90% in 1974 to 68.6% in 2013.
Credible certification and labelling rewards and promotes sustainable fishing
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international not-for profit organisation which sets a global standard for sustainable fishing, has demonstrated that it is possible to harvest our oceans responsibly whilst sustaining fish stocks and habitats.
“Unsustainable fishing threatens the integrity of marine ecosystems and undermines the millions of livelihoods that depend upon the health, productivity and resilience of our oceans,” said Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC. “However, it is possible to fish sustainably, ensuring the future productivity of our oceans. This has been clearly demonstrated by MSC certified fisheries. Their leadership and science based management is helping to maintain thriving and healthy marine environments and to safeguard seafood supplies into the future.”
Seafood from MSC certified fisheries now represents close to 10% of global wild harvest. The proportion of MSC certified catch is higher for important seafood species such as white fish (46%), lobster (22%) and tuna (16%).
Recent analysis of MSC certified fisheries showed that 94% have improved their practices since certification, with advances in technology, research and fisheries management enabling fishers to fish ‘smarter’ and more selectively.
Look for the blue MSC label
“Retailers, restaurants, chefs, businesses and all of us as individual consumers have a tremendous opportunity to drive real change in the way our oceans are fished. By choosing MSC labelled seafood, sustainable fisheries are rewarded and others incentivised to improve their practices. This latest UN report reinforces the importance of these commitments and I very much hope we will see new and deeper commitments to demanding certified sustainable seafood choices around the world” concluded Howes.
The blue MSC label can be found on more than 21,500 products in around 100 countries.
The MSC label on a seafood product means that it:
- Comes from a wild-catch fishery which has been independently certified to the MSC’s science-based standard for environmentally sustainable fishing.
- Is fully traceable to a sustainable source.
Read about the improvements delivered by MSC certified fisheries >
Watch a film about the MSC >