Funding from the Dutch Postcode Lottery will see fishermen from developing countries qualifying for more opportunities to improve the sustainability of their fishing practices, according to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The four-year project utilizing the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s EUR 1.75 million (USD 1.85 million) funding, called ‘Fish for Good,’ aims to bring fishers, communities and local partners together “to map the sustainability of fisheries before providing communities with tools and support to safeguard livelihoods and oceans for future generations,” explained MSC. The implementation of ‘Fish for Good’ will be aided by local NGOs, who will be able to provide area insights, networks and expertise in ocean conservation.
“This generous funding will help MSC and our partners to make a real difference. We are extremely grateful to the Dutch Postcode Lottery and all of the postcode lottery ticket buyers who have made this possible,” MSC CEO" Rupert Howes said “The MSC has the tools, training and networks to assist small scale and developing world fisheries on their journey of environmental improvement.”
Countries included in the project proposal for potential partnerships are Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico, which were picked due to the economic importance of fishing in the respective regions, the urgency to protect marine environments and the presence of supportive partner organizations.
“Working with local partners and assessment bodies, the ‘Fish for Good’ project will provide engaged fisheries with long-term improvement plans and knowledge which could help them to become more sustainable and achieve certification in the future. The project builds upon the success of similar MSC pre-assessment projects with partners in France, Japan, Spain and the U.K.,” said MSC.
The MSC has been receiving funding from the Dutch Postcode Lottery since 2011; it receives EUR 500,000 (USD 531,125) annually from the Lottery. Funding for the ‘Fish for Good’ project was awarded during a charity gala, held on Monday, 6 February at the Koninklijk Theater Carré in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
