MSC_Get_Certified_Leaflet
- 1. Sustainable fishing for today and tomorrow An introduction to MSC fisheries certification
- 2. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard 2 Become part of a collective effort to ensure healthy oceans for future generations. Sea into the future Covering more than 70% of the planet’s surface, oceans are home to an extraordinary diversity of life. They support the livelihoods of one tenth of the world’s population1 , and are a vital source of protein for millions of people. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation established to address the problem of unsustainable fishing and to safeguard seafood supplies for the future. Our vision is for the world’s oceans to be teeming with life – today, tomorrow and for generations to come. We run the only certification and ecolabelling program for wild-capture fisheries that meets best practice guidelines set by both the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization and ISEAL, the global membership association for sustainability standards. By being part of this program fisheries, retailers and food processors from around the globe are helping to safeguard seafood supplies. By gaining MSC certification, your fishery will become part of this collective effort that is helping to protect our oceans for future generations. Your fishery will also have the opportunity to supply the increasing number of markets that are demanding MSC ecolabelled products. Front cover image: © Leonard Faüstle 1 FAO SOFIA Report 2014 Image:©armiblue
- 3. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard3 The MSC ecolabel is a mark of sustainability, credibility and traceability. The MSC ecolabel on your catch Working with scientists and marine experts, we have developed the world’s most recognised standard for sustainable wild-caught seafood. Well managed fisheries that ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and keep ecosystems healthy can be certified to this standard. Catch from these fisheries can then be sold alongside the blue MSC ecolabel. Every business along an MSC certified seafood supply chain must comply with the MSC Chain of Custody Standard, ensuring that MSC labelled seafood can be traced back to a sustainably managed certified fishery. Consumers who choose to buy seafood with the MSC ecolabel reward those fisheries going the extra mile to protect the environment and fish stocks for the future. 2 AMR 2014 survey of over 9,000 regular seafood shoppers in 15 countries across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. 250 More than fisheries have been certified as sustainable against the MSC standard since 1999 26,000 Over MSC certified products are now available in around 100 countries 10 Over million tonnes of seafood, accounting for around 10% of all wild-caught seafood, annually comes from fisheries engaged in the MSC program 30% of seafood shoppers recognise the MSC ecolabel2
- 4. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard 4 ©LeonardFaüstle MSC certified fisheries have the opportunity to supply markets where environmental credibility plays an increasingly decisive role in purchasing decisions. Benefits of MSC certification Potential benefits include: – Sustainable fisheries – Reputation enhanced – Livelihoods protected – Access to new markets – Existing markets secured – Possible price premiums – Promotional opportunities Achieving certification against the MSC Fisheries Standard validates the efforts made by your fishery to ensure the long term sustainability of marine environments. By ensuring that your fishing practices are sustainable you will be helping to secure jobs and fishing-based economies for the future. You could also enhance your reputation and secure new business opportunities.
- 5. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard5 Following MSC certification in 2009, the Ben Tre clam fishery in Vietnam experienced up to 50% price increases for its products due to new markets in Europe and North America. “The MSC process has been hugely valuable in helping to create positive dialogue and relationships with NGOs and other fishing organisations. It has given us a framework to address concerns and deliver measurable impacts.” Johann Augustyn, Secretary of the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association “We appreciate that our clients and their customers take sustainability seriously, and that they demand MSC certification from their suppliers.” Sigve Nordrum, Sustainability Director at Aker BioMarine
- 6. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard 6 Increasing demand for MSC certified seafood Examples include: – The Rio 2016 Organising Committee has agreed to promote MSC certified seafood at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games – Frozen seafood brands Findus, Iglo and Frosta have committed to using the MSC ecolabel across their entire certified seafood range – McDonald’s roll out of only MSC certified sustainable white fish in Europe, North America and Brazil – Initiatives from hotel groups such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation to increase procurement of MSC certified seafood – Commitments from retailers including Whole Foods Market, Aeon, Loblaw, Sainsbury’s, Woolworths, Lidl and Carrefour to extend their offer of MSC certified seafood – Globally more than 180 university campuses are now MSC certified. Consumers are increasingly looking for reassurance that their food has come from a sustainable source. 90% of seafood shoppers believe that ocean sustainability is important2 . As a result retailers, restaurants and suppliers are seeking products which have been independently assessed as meeting the MSC Fisheries Standard. “Selling MSC certified seafood is important to maintain Japan’s fish eating culture for the next generation. Aeon will proactively continue to provide MSC certified seafood.” Mitsuko Tsuchiya, Director / Senior Executive Officer of Aeon Retail Ltd International retailers, restaurants and suppliers are committed to MSC certified seafood. “We now have a 100% commitment to responsibly source all of our food and the only fisheries sustainability verification that Iglo currently uses is the MSC standard.” Peter Hajipieris, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Iglo Foods Group
- 7. ©DonnaGriffith,Danglers The retail market value of consumer facing MSC labelled seafood has more than doubled since 2009, reaching US$4.8 billion in 2013/14. More than 2,700 supply chain organisations are certified to handle MSC certified seafood. 7 ©LoblawCompaniesLimited Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard
- 8. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard 8 The MSC Fisheries Standard brings together 15 years of collaboration with scientists, the fishing industry and conservation groups. It reflects the most up-to-date understanding of internationally accepted fishery science and best practice management. Fisheries that volunteer to be assessed to this standard are evaluated against 28 performance indicators, which sit within three principles: Assessment to the MSC Fisheries Standard Principle 1 Sustainable fish stocks The target fish stocks must be maintained at sustainable levels. Any certified fishery must also operate so that fishing can continue indefinitely without overexploiting the resources. Principle 2 Minimising environmental impacts Fishing operations should be managed to maintain the structure, productivity, function and diversity of the ecosystem on which the fishery depends, including other species and habitats. Principle 3 Effective management The fishery must meet all relevant local, national and international laws and must have a management system in place to respond to changing circumstances in order to maintain sustainability.
- 9. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard9 The assessment is carried out by an accredited third-party certifier which employs a team of scientists to independently score the fishery. In order to be certified, the fishery must score a minimum of 60 against all 28 performance indicators, and an average of 80 across each of the three overarching principles. Any performance indicator score between 60 and 79 results in a condition for improvement. The fishery will then be required to take appropriate action to improve performance so that it scores 80 or above within a defined period of time, most often within the 5 year period of certification. This level must be maintained into the future, leading to long term benefits for fisheries and the environment. Once certified, MSC fisheries undergo annual audits, deliver improvements against any conditions and are reassessed every five years. To be certified against the MSC standard, fisheries must meet strict requirements for fish stocks, environmental impacts and effective management. ©EdouardLeBart
- 10. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard 10 The MSC program is open to all wild- capture fisheries regardless of their size, scale, geography or technology. Some enhanced fisheries are also eligible for the program. Pure aquaculture fisheries are not within the scope of MSC assessment. Checklist for success: – Visit www.msc.org/get-certified for more information – Contact us so we can guide you through the process – Get comparative quotes from ASI accredited certifiers ©MSC/ffpeters.de Next steps and costs of certification
- 11. Get Certified! MSC Fisheries Standard11 Steps in the MSC assessment and certification process Pre-assessment (optional) Identifies any potential challenges for certification. If the pre-assessment is positive a fishery may decide to proceed directly to full assessment. Alternatively a fishery may first address the issues that need improvement through an action plan, before entering full assessment. Full assessment Includes opportunities for stakeholder input, peer review and an objections period. Takes between 6 and 18 months. Certification Lasts up to 5 years. During this time the fishery makes any improvements required as a condition of certification. Annual audits Carried out by the certifier to ensure continued compliance. Reassessment Within five years of the last certificate being granted. The cost of assessment varies depending on the fishery. It’s always best to speak to an MSC representative who can guide you through the process. Independent certifiers charge a price based on their own pricing structure. We recommend that you get a few quotes and take into account the certifier’s experience with your region, gear type and species as well as the price. You will need to budget to cover the cost of each key stage of MSC certification. Sometimes, there are grants that you can apply for. Your local MSC representative can advise you on how to apply for these. Grants may be available to help with the cost of certification. “If there is one piece of advice I would give to a fishery entering the MSC process, it’s get organised – make sure you have a really great project manager to take you through it.” David Carter, CEO, Austral Fisheries, Australia “The MSC pre-assessment helped us to identify where improvements were needed and we have built this into a fishery improvement action plan.” Dr David Mathayo (MP), Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development of the United Republic of Tanzania
- 12. Design by Forster Communications. All information correct at time of publication. @MSCecolabel #MSCcertified © Marine Stewardship Council 2015 info@msc.org www.msc.org/fisheries /marine-stewardship-council /sustainableseafood Find out more: Countries where fisheries are engaged in the MSC program fisheries certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard 250 More than