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Sustainable fish stocks are at the heart of the MSC program. Ensuring that the world’s fish stocks remain healthy is vital for marine ecosystems and global food security.
To meet the requirements of Principle 1 of the MSC Fisheries Standard, sustainable fisheries should have a robust and precautionary harvest strategy in place. A harvest strategy is the combination of monitoring, stock assessment, harvest control rules and management actions that are required to bring about the sustainable management of the fishery.
However, for certain stocks, such as those managed by regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), the development and implementation of harvest strategies is particularly challenging.
We are currently reviewing whether our Principle 1 requirements need to change to recognise these challenges and respond to advances in science or global best practice.
Fisheries management authorities responsible for managing multi-jurisdictional fisheries have started developing and implementing effective harvest strategies to manage the resources under their mandate. However, progress is slow.
Not addressing long term objectives in an appropriate timeframe may end up having a negative impact on the sustainable use of the stocks. There is a need for those responsible to focus on long-term sustainability, to follow best practice and guarantee stocks are managed at an appropriate productivity level with robust management measures.
Specific to MSC certified fisheries, some regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) are not developing and implementing effective harvest strategies for all stocks they are responsible for within one certification cycle. Such a situation limits or prevent fishery clients from closing conditions related to harvest strategies and/or harvest control rules. The imposition and closure of conditions is a central component of our Theory of Change.
This review could change the intent of the MSC Fisheries Standard, through the development of new requirements under Principle 1.
In January 2022, the MSC Board of Trustees approved the proposed Standard to enter a final period of public review, which was open between 01 February and 04 April 2022.
The project has been split into two components, and the Standard revisions proposed for each are details below:
We are proposing the addition of definitions for both 'responsive' harvest strategy and 'designed' harvest strategy to the Fisheries Standard requirements. This will help ensure fisheries are scored consistently.
A responsive harvest strategy would be defined as a strategy that allows stock management to adapt to the development and implementation of other elements in the strategy such as harvest control rules and to demonstrate that positive action has been taken by management when required.
A designed harvest strategy includes a management procedure which has been developed through management strategy evaluation. This uses a computer simulation, allowing various scenarios and impacts of management procedures to be tested. It uses algorithm-based rules to simulate outcomes and is the most robust way to implement a harvest strategy.
We are focussing on developing requirements that incentivise the adoption of harvest strategies for stocks managed by RFMOs. We are proposed the introduction of a phased condition pathway to support these fisheries in resolving conditions of certification within Principle 1 of the Standard.
It is proposed that this phased condition pathway will be assessed through a bespoke scoring tree and would be compulsory for fisheries targeting stocks that are managed under RFMOs. Scoring will remain the same, but it will require that fisheries that target RFMO managed stocks, develop state-of-the-art harvest strategies while allowing additional time for development and implementation. Any fishery can also voluntarily apply these requirements.
The scoring will remain almost identical to the default assessment tree with a difference that ‘available’ harvest control rules (HCRs) at SG60 will only be scored in the annex. ‘Available’ HCRs can only be applied when the target stock is healthy and can either be another HCR implemented by the Principle 1 management agency on a separate stock or a clear workplan for the development of a HCR on the target stock. ‘Available’ HCRs were permitted in the default tree in the previous requirements.
The length of time given to resolve Principle 1 conditions for harvest strategies and harvest control rules is dependent on the previous certification history of the Principle 1 target stock (see below). The target stock here, refers to the stock assessed within the Principle 1 Unit of Assessment (UoA), for example, yellowfin tuna in the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
Fisheries with a target stock entering the program for the first time (e.g., the stock has not been part of a previous certification) will be given a maximum of ten years – or two certification cycles – to develop and adopt a state-of-the-art harvest strategy.
Fisheries with a target stock that have only had one previous certification will be given a maximum of five additional years (or one certification cycle) to resolve conditions, provided they meet the entry criteria – namely, that the first three steps of Phase 1 (see below) are completed prior to entering re-assessment.
Fisheries with a target stock that have had more than one previous certification, will have a maximum of two additional years to meet their conditions, provided they meet several entry criteria.
Fisheries would be set pre-defined milestones over two phases, with progress audited by an independent conformity assessment body (CAB). These phases focus on two distinct processes: the science phase and the policy phase. A considerable amount of collaboration will be needed between scientists and policy makers throughout this process, in order to deliver state-of-the-art harvest strategies.
Fisheries must demonstrate they are developing a harvest strategy and have completed a management strategy evaluation (MSE). Harvest strategies developed through MSE are more robust to uncertainty and allow the testing and definition of specific management objectives. 1. Management objectives related to the development of the harvest strategy, performance indicators and data defined. 2. Operating models and potential management procedures (MPs) that include mechanisms to reducing fishing pressure on the stock and is impact tested through MSE simulations. 3. Demonstration of consultation and input from stakeholders. 4. Preferred harvest strategy(s) adhering to a management procedures (MP)s approach with an agreed catch constraint identified, such as a total allowable catch (TAC) or closure period.
The second phase will focus on implementing the new harvest strategy policy. A key step will be to ensure fisheries managers agree to and adopt the strategy proposed and put in place mechanisms to manage catches accordingly. 1. Mechanism for catch constraints agreed. 2. Harvest strategy adhering to management procedures (MP) approach with catch constraints or resource sharing mechanism that follows scientific advice, adopted and implemented. 3. A schedule plan agreed that periodically reviews the effectiveness of the harvest strategy.
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Download the proposed revised Standard and guidance below.
Please note that sections in the standard marked in square brackets will be subject to further refinement through ongoing research and pilot testing with Conformity Assessment Bodies.
You can request a version of the requirements specific to this topic including tracked changes by emailing standards@msc.org.
We will continue the impact assessments to understand the consequences of our proposed policies, enabling us to judge which policies will be the most effective in solving the identified issues. We consider factors such as the feasibility of changes for fisheries, and whether any changes impact the accessibility of our program, or retention of certified fisheries in the MSC program. We also look at whether proposed changes can be effectively audited by assessors.
The MSC Board of Trustees will be asked to make the final decision to approve the new Standard in June 2022. If a decision is made to approve the Standard, the Board will confirm when the new Standard will be published.Fisheries seeking certification for the first time will need to adhere to any new Standard six months after it is published.
MSC certified fisheries will have at least three years before they need to transition to the new Standard.
Sign up to our Fisheries Standard Review mailing list to receive updates about the review.
We held a public consultation on the proposed revisions to our Standard in May and June 2021. Stakeholders provided feedback through an online survey, which was available on our website for 30 days.
We have published a summary report from the 2021 public consultation, which contains an overview of the project, feedback received and a descriptive analysis of the participating stakeholder groups.
In June 2020 we held a virtual workshops on the topic of ‘Feasibility of Principle 1 changes for existing requirements’. Participants could provide additional input through a follow-up survey (an online form).
We have published a consultation summary report, which includes transcripts from the workshops and survey feedback and a descriptive analysis of attendees. Commercially sensitive and personal details have been redacted. Please note that the report does not contain details of policy direction. Download the summary report below from the 2020 consultation on 'Feasibility of Principle 1 changes for existing requirements'
We have previously commissioned a consultancy report to investigate various types of 'responsive' harvest strategies, we are now exploring possible new requirements that could change the intent of Principle 1.
We commissioned independent research by experts to clarify the definition of 'responsive' harvest strategies and to understand the scoring implications of inconsistent interpretations within Principle 1.
Download the consultancy report for 'Reviewing Principle 1 with a focus on harvest strategies'.
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