The role of science in the MSC Fisheries Standard Dr Rohan Currey | Fisheries Standard Director | 5 October 2018 1
Outline Introduction to the MSC Science and the MSC Fisheries Standard Science and MSC fisheries assessments What’s next for the MSC? Fisheries Standard Review 2
Introduction The Marine Stewardship Council An international non-profit organization established to address the problem of unsustainable fishing and safeguard seafood supplies for the future Our vision is for the world’s oceans teeming with life – today, tomorrow and for generations to come
MSC Theory of Change Certification and ecolabeling: A mechanism for recognizing and rewarding sustainable fishing while incentivizing improvements where needed
McDonald’s announces it will serve MSC certified 20 years of the MSC fish in all its restaurants across Europe – its US and Canadian operations UK’s Thames herring follow in 2013 and 2014. fishery becomes the first to renew its MSC certificate. Collapse of the MSC is formally Grand Banks cod fishery. The MSC becomes Alaska pollock, the registered as the first global Concern about overfishing world’s largest a charity at The blue MSC label seafood certification grows among whitefish fishery, appears on Iglo’s entire Companies to achieve GSSI Conservationists and achieves MSC cod and haddock House, London. recognition for industry. certification fishfinger range credibility and rigour. 1998 - MSC 2001 - MSC Fisheries CoC Standard Standard 92 95 97 00 05 08 11 15 17 The first fisheries – WWF and Unilever 100 fisheries are China’s first MSC conceive the idea of the Western Australia now MSC certified certified fishery is the MSC. rock lobster, Thames or in assessment. Zoneco scallop Blackwater herring fishery in Zhangzidao. and Alaska salmon The Vietnamese Ben Tre – are certified. clam fishery is the first in Southeast Asia to The first labelled receive MSC certification. IKEA commits to only sell MSC products hit certified sustainable the shops. seafood to its 650 million visitors in 49 markets.
MSC in 2018 200 staff 15 offices covering 30 countries Independent & multi stakeholder led 3 rd party certification system Global leading ecolabel for wild fish 6
The Science & Standards team • 35 staff • Fisheries team • Multiple PhDs • Monitoring and evaluation team • Senior scientists including new Director • Peer review publications • Research collaborations 7
MSC certified fisheries 349 ~ 14% MSC of the global certified wild-caught fisheries in seafood supply 36 countries is engaged 8
Program growth Fisheries growth Market growth
The MSC in Latin America 13 Certifications • Chilean Deris Krill fishery certified recently 4 Full assessments in progress • Chilean jack mackerel nearing completion 10
Chain of Custody Standard 11
Our latest DNA testing results DNA testing and trace backs are part of the quality assurance of our Chain of Custody program *The testing sampled 256 unique products and 13 species of fish, sourced from retailers across 16 countries 12
The Aichi Targets & the SDGs Data from the MSC is used by the UN Environment Programme to track progress towards international goals to end overfishing and protect biodiversity. The more fisheries are MSC certified, the more the UN knows oceans are being fished sustainably. MSC works with fisheries, retailers, scientists and other partners from around the world to implement SDG 14 and support progress towards Goals 2, 8, 12 and 17. The global indicator produced through MSC’s monitoring and evaluation is a valuable tool for understanding progress towards sustainable fisheries globally. UN Environment Program
How science underpins the MSC Fisheries Standard 14
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Standard setting best practice ISEAL Compliant and independently verified against all three ISEAL Codes FAO Compliant with FAO Guidelines for ecolabeling of fish and fishery products from wild capture fisheries GSSI Recognised by GSSI as being aligned with all essential criteria in all three sections ISO ISO 59 Code of good practice for standardisation ISO 19011 (Guidelines for Audit Management Systems) and ISO 17065 (Conformity assessment -- Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services) 16
How do we review the Fisheries Standard? The process is guided and Identify areas Research and Stakeholder The MSC The MSC informed by for development consultation. Board of evaluates the the technical improvement We gather Trustees changes to expertise of or opportunity and consider makes the make sure the MSC feedback final decision they have the Technical on the intended Advisory changes outcome Board and Stakeholder Advisory Council 17
Just behind the crest of the wave 18
Example: key low trophic level requirements Prior to 2011, the Standard required that target stock management take into account the role of the species in the ecosystem, but was not specific about how to do this. Over three years, the MSC undertook extensive consultation and commissioned specific research to understand the most appropriate management approach for key low trophic species. This work was combined with results of other international research and in 2011, new requirements on how to identify whether a species was of key importance to an ecosystem, and what management of these species would be required were incorporated into the Standard. 19
MSC requirement: Determining key and non-key LTL stocks MSC requirements distinguish between key LTL stocks and non-key LTL stocks Based on ecological significance of the species To achieve certification: All LTL stocks need to be assessed against their ecosystem importance Specific higher management requirements (e.g. <0.5Fmsy) only apply to KEY LTL stocks The MSC has developed criteria for determining whether an LTL stock Is 'key'. Key LTL meet at least 2 of the following criteria: 1. Connectivity: It is highly connected in the food web, leading to significant predator dependency 2. Energy Transfer: A high proportion of energy is being channelled through the species 3. Wasp waisted: The species forms an integral part of a 'wasp-waisted' food web, meaning only one or a few LTL species dominate the entire trophic level 20
Global standards Challenge of maintaining global applicability without sacrificing the scientific credibility of the Standard. Applicable at this scale … And also at this scale. 21
Example: risk based framework The RBF for data- In 2008, the method limited fisheries was was piloted in seven originally developed fisheries around the by Australia’s world before being Commonwealth integrated into the Scientific and MSC Fisheries Industrial Research Standard in July 2009. Organisation. 67 fisheries have been certified using the RBF to evaluate fishery impacts. 24% of these fisheries were in the Global South, including in Suriname. 22
MSC Fisheries Standard version 2.0 • Stronger protection for habitats including Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) • Stronger and more precautionary approach to bycatch mitigation • Stronger checks and balances through the Peer Review College 23
Change on the water Fewer than 50 fisheries are certified to V2.0 but we are already seeing stronger protection for habitats. In Iceland, 4 fisheries undergoing re- assessment to V2.0 of the Standard have had to strengthen protection for vulnerable marine ecosystems – deep sea sponge and cold water coral – including the establishment of formalised move-on rules
How science underpins MSC fisheries assessments and improvements 25
What is a fishery? Unit of Assessment (UoA) • The target stock(s) • Fishing method/gear and practice (including vessel type/s) • Vessels or fleets • Other eligible fishers that are included in an MSC fishery assessment • Specific fishing seasons and/or areas Unit of Certification (UoC) • The target stock(s) • Fishing method/gear and practice (including vessel/s) 26
Science in the assessment process Our vision is for the world’s oceans teeming with life – today, tomorrow and for generations to come
Scoring 100 100 State of State of the art the art 80 80 pass Unconditional Best Best practice practice Average score required 60 60 pass Conditions that Conditional Minimum Minimum require improvements acceptable acceptable fail Assumed pull to motivate improvements 28
Over 400 certified fisheries since 2000 14 % 1,200 + 94% of global marine catch of MSC certified fisheries had made at least one change to improve their operations Improvements since 2000 incl. engaged with the MSC from acceptable levels of sustainability to global best practice, and to progress with habitat protection, bycatch advances in best practice science and management reduction, increased stocks
Protecting habitats 13% of MSC certified fisheries have improved the way they manage their impacts on marine habitats, making change on the water and funding new scientific research to inform further improvements
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