MSC process transparent and scientifically robust, encourages stakeholder input
31 January 2018
New Zealand - The Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) vision is to keep our oceans teeming with life and to safeguard seafood supplies for future generations. Over the last
20 years, the MSC has helped incentivise responsible stewardship of global fisheries - delivering real change in support
of healthy oceans.
“The MSC has received recent criticisms in the media from stakeholder groups, including Forest and Bird, that have
called into question the sustainability of a number of fisheries in the MSC program. We stand by the credibility of our
program, a key part of which is the opportunity for stakeholders to submit information or data that might impact the
sustainability assessment of a fishery. We encourage Forest and Bird to continue its role as an important player in the
health our oceans by participating in this process so we can collectively be part of real, lasting change on the water.” says Anne Gabriel, MSC Oceania Program Director.
MSC is the world’s most robust and recognised sustainability standard for wild caught seafood, based on UN FAO
guidelines for best practice and creating a mechanism for measurable change in our oceans. Since 2000, over 1,200
improvements have been made by fisheries to meet the MSC Standard. These have delivered more stable stocks, reduced
bycatch and improved management and monitoring through better scientific understanding.
Fisheries seeking MSC certification are subject to a 12-18-month assessment period where an independent body assesses
the fishery on three principles; health of target stock, wider ecosystem marine impacts (including bycatch and
interactions with Endangered, Threatened or Protected (ETP) species) and management of the fishery. Certification lasts
for five years and 94% of fisheries made at least one improvement to achieve or maintain MSC certification. Annual
audits occur throughout this five-year period to ensure fisheries are progressing towards improvement targets and to
allow stakeholders further opportunities to enter new information into the process. Assessments are completely
transparent being publicly accessible, peer reviewed, and based on the best available science.
“As the fourth largest marine environment in the world, the New Zealand seafood industry and government has taken a
world leading role in engaging over half of the country’s wild caught fish in the MSC programme, showing commitment to
preserve fish for future generations. The MSC programme is approved and recognised by international standard setting
organisations such as ISEAL Alliance and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), for its credibility,
inclusiveness, rigour and science-based substantiation.” continued Ms Gabriel.
There are currently eight MSC certified fisheries in New Zealand, including hoki, hake, ling, southern blue whiting,
toothfish, skipjack tuna and albacore tuna. In December 2016, three of the nine New Zealand orange roughy fisheries also
attained MSC certification. In total, MSC certified species account for around 70% of the deep water catch and around
50% of total volume of New Zealand’s seafood landings.
The MSC is a listening and transparent organisation, committed to continuous improvement towards understanding and
meeting evolving expectations of sustainability, while maintaining a program that is also practical, accessible and
science-based.
Through an open, consultative process, MSC updates the Fisheries Standard every five years to keep with best practice
and ensure the health of the oceans. An essential part of this is the constructive feedback from stakeholders
representing industry, government, conservation groups, academia, etc. which is significantly provided for within the
MSC governance structure and processes.
“It has been an incredible two decades for the MSC. Today, more than 400 fisheries around the world, landing nearly 12
million tonnes of seafood annually and representing 14% of the global wild marine catch, are engaged in the programme.
None of this would have been possible without stakeholder commitments that include providing valuable input into MSC
certifications.” Ms Gabriel further noted.