Three foundations have announced a combined USD 10.85 million investment in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) through September 2015.
The Walton Family Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Skoll Foundation’s collective donations aim to build the global market for sustainable seafood. The multi-year grants demonstrate a continuing commitment to MSC’s certification and eco-labeling program, to preserve the livelihoods of fishermen while restoring depleted fish populations and a healthy marine environment.
Through the support of the three foundations, MSC plans to further establish its role in the sustainable seafood marketplace. It aims to solidify buyer commitments, continue to expand the availability of MSC-labeled seafood in retail stores worldwide, increase support from the foodservice industry and meet the growing demand associated with the rapid acceleration in fisheries applying for assessment. The funding will also enable the MSC to continue to strengthen its methodology for assessing fisheries and measure the impact of its program on the environmental performance of certified fisheries.
“MSC is extremely grateful for the long-term and continued support of the Packard, Walton Family and Skoll Foundations who share our vision of healthy and productive marine eco-systems where seafood supplies are safeguarded for this and future generations,” said Rupert Howes, MSC CEO.
“This combined announcement of renewed multi-year and multi-million dollar funding commitments from three of the world’s leading foundations could not have come at a better time. The growing demand for credible, third-party certified and fully traceable sustainable seafood choices is rewarding both existing best practice and, critically, driving real change in the way our oceans are fished. This renewed and extremely generous level of funding will further help the MSC and our many partners to build on the success and progress we are delivering together to preserve the critical natural capital of our oceans and the livelihoods that depend upon harvesting our oceans sustainably.”
