Rich Boot is the CEO of seafood sustainability nonprofit FishChoice, which manages FisheryProgress, a site that tracks the progress of global fishery improvement projects (FIPs). Previously, Boot served as a board member for the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. He has also served as the director of operations for nonprofit FishWise.
SeafoodSource sat down with Boot to discuss the global FIP landscape and how FisheryProgress is helping companies navigate that landscape to ensure they get value out of engaging with FIPs.
SeafoodSource: What does the global FIP landscape look like, and how does FisheryProgress help seafood companies navigate that landscape?
Boot: FIPs are the best tool we have to get together as an industry and improve the overall performance of a fishery. Over 10 percent of global landings come from FIPs right now. There are over 300 FIPs globally – in fisheries large and small – run by NGOs and businesses, addressing the full range of management issues that a fishery can have.
The importance of FIPs to our future supply of sustainable seafood products is why we developed FisheryProgress.org in 2016: to create a one-stop shop for information on FIPs. Companies can use it to track progress, see where fisheries are improving, and find ways to get involved. FIPs can use it to monitor their progress and be transparent about their efforts. Over 90 percent of active FIPs report to FisheryProgress so buyers and supply chain actors get a clear, standardized, and transparent view of what’s happening with FIPs globally. That makes it easier to manage risk, make smart sourcing decisions, and build resilience in supply chains.
The real value of FisheryProgress is that it puts all the data in one place so the industry can use it not only to source responsibly but also to actively drive improvements in fisheries worldwide.
SeafoodSource: Having all this data in a comparable form must generate a learning loop of what’s working and what’s not. So, what’s working and what’s not?
Boot: One of FisheryProgress’s biggest strengths is its coverage. The platform brings together information on more than 300 FIPs spanning over 90 countries, making it the most comprehensive source of FIP data worldwide. Equally important is FisheryProgress’s credibility. All data submitted is reviewed by experts against transparent criteria, giving users confidence that the information is both accurate and reliable.
The platform hasn’t stayed static. Just as the FIP model itself has evolved beyond purely environmental concerns to address social issues, FisheryProgress has adapted to support that broader vision and expanded the definition of what makes a fishery sustainable.
Most importantly, what we’ve seen is the success of FIPs that report on the site. The percentage of global seafood landings from FIPs has increased from 6 percent to 10 percent in just the last four years. Thirty-two FIPs on the site have been completed, and four are currently in full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. We’ve seen FIPs make incredible progress on both environmental and social fronts.
However, one of the biggest challenges facing FIPs is that buyer engagement is lower than needed. While many companies commit to sourcing from FIPs, too few are actively engaging with their suppliers on both environmental and social issues. This lack of consistent pressure and partnership can slow down progress, particularly on issues like human rights and social responsibility, where momentum is still lagging. We want to shift the focus in social responsibility from buyers simply demanding compliance to buyers actively partnering with fisheries around continuous improvement. Meaningful engagement, not just checklist compliance, will drive lasting, real-world improvements in responsible sourcing.
Funding remains another persistent barrier to long-term improvements. Budgets for FIPs are tight, and fishers themselves do not always see direct financial benefits from participating. While there is anecdotal evidence that FIPs can increase productivity and efficiency, which in turn can lead to higher profits, these gains do not typically translate into price premiums in the market. Industry actors have the leverage to close this gap and accelerate progress by investing more directly in FIPs, and FisheryProgress has the data to show exactly where that leverage is needed most. By linking funding and buyer engagement more strategically, stakeholders can help ensure that FIPs deliver on their promise of lasting environmental and social change.
SeafoodSource: How are you improving engagement of fishers and end users?
Boot: FisheryProgress recognizes that FIPs need more than good reporting tools; they need strong partnerships. That’s why some of the site’s newest features are designed to build those connections.
A new “Engagement Opportunities” feature lets FIPs post ways for stakeholders, especially buyers, to get involved. This might mean offering financial support, joining working groups, helping implement specific actions, or providing a letter of support. The goal is to encourage more hands-on engagement from businesses that source from FIPs, creating stronger feedback loops and more collaborative progress.
For example, right now, the Grenada yellowfin and bigeye tuna FIP is seeking stakeholders to engage in efforts for improvement, and the Sri Lanka tuna and swordfish FIP is seeking financial support to help build an observer program to enable better data collection. These are steps that most industry stakeholders can get involved in.
We’re also developing a powerful data tool that will allow businesses and other users to track FIP progress over time, compare all FIP data in one place, and create custom reports that can be downloaded and saved. This tool will also feature custom data visualizations so understanding FIP progress will be easier than ever before. Our team is also in the process of developing an AI-driven tool to help provide easier access to the data in FisheryProgress.
Continuous improvement models are picking up steam in the seafood world, and FIPs have been ahead of the curve for some time. But, improvement requires buyer support, and we’re hoping these new tools and features will encourage stronger buyer and FIP relationships.
SeafoodSource: How do FIPs fit into the broader landscape of marketplace tools like certification?
Boot: Some FIPs are explicitly designed to achieve certification. Others are more focused on making progress in challenging contexts, even if formal certification isn’t realistic. That’s a key distinction: Certification recognizes that a fishery has met a defined standard, while FIPs support fisheries that are actively working to improve to a defined end point – sometimes that’s a certification, but it can also be another end goal. They’re about the journey, not just the destination, and FisheryProgress’ role is to create transparency toward any end goal, whether MSC certification or another.
In many instances, FIPs help build the pipeline for future certification. They also provide a trustworthy, transparent way to recognize progress while they’re improving. That’s why FisheryProgress complements programs like the MSC’s Improver Program, which helps fisheries close to certification cross the finish line. Rather than compete, FisheryProgress and similar initiatives work together to support fisheries wherever they are on their improvement journey.
FisheryProgress stands out, however, in its implementation of the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy for FIPs. This does not certify a fishery’s human rights conditions nor is it designed to offer definitive assessments of working conditions, but it has become one of the most structured and transparent sources of social data in the seafood sector.
FIPs show that public commitments, structured risk assessments, and transparent reporting create a strong framework for addressing social responsibility. This approach is valuable beyond FIPs, especially since social reporting often stops once fisheries become eco-certified, even though labor risks can persist. The FIP model, as structured through FisheryProgress, offers lessons that could strengthen human rights due diligence in certified fisheries and across the broader sector. We are actively working closely with FIPs and their stakeholders to identify ways to continue social progress beyond eco-certification.
As I mentioned at the beginning, over 10 percent of global seafood production is currently in an FIP. It is the best tool we have to help fisheries improve. The end goal might be better management plans, better governance, tighter enforcement, improved data quality, or certification. Regardless of the end goals, FisheryProgress plays a vital role in providing the transparency and industry connection that is needed to keep FIPs on a path of continuous improvement.
