MSC applauds Australia, sustainability initiative

The Marine Stewardship Council this week congratulated the Western Australian government for partnering with the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) for an what it says is a first: a USD 14.5 million fund for the country’s fisheries to gain third-party sustainability certification.

The funding will be rolled out over the next four years and will be split into USD 8 million for ongoing research and management and USD 6.5 million for assessment to gain MSC certification.

“Western Australia is home to the rock lobster fishery, which was the world’s first MSC certified sustainable fishery. Now with this partnership between industry and government, the region is demonstrating tremendous leadership in transforming the seafood industry to a sustainable basis,” said Rupert Howes, MSC CEO.

In addition, the MSC said it welcomes a recent proposal for the creation of a Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative (GSSI). A number of parties involved in the international seafood supply chain recently developed the initiative to enhance and support an efficient, sustainable seafood supply chain, by providing transparent and objective analysis of the credibility, performance and acceptance of the different certification programs that exist.

“With the growing number of certification programs as well as other forms of sustainability assurance programs operating in many markets around the world, there is an indisputable need for truly independent review and ranking of the services and claims being made by the various programs, as well as a mechanism to ensure quality control among the programs,” said MSC in a statement. “MSC would be delighted to see a credible, balanced, transparent process to evaluate, benchmark and grade the performance of the various program providing assurances about sustainability and responsible management in world fisheries. That would be a welcome and needed evolution in the sustainable seafood movement.”

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