The World Wildlife Fund on Wednesday presented Rupert Howes, CEO of the Marine Stewardship Council, with a WWF Leaders for a Living Planet Award.
Presented to Howes at WWF’s annual conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the award recognizes Rupert’s role in building the MSC into the world’s premier sustainable fisheries certification program and eco-label.
Nearly 200 fisheries worldwide are engaged in the MSC program, with 46 certified, 107 under assessment and 20 to 30 in confidential pre-assessment. Almost 2,500 MSC-labeled seafood products are available in 50 countries, with an annual retail value of more than USD 1 billion (EUR 704 million).
The London-based nonprofit was formed by Unilever and WWF in 1997 to promote well-managed and sustainable fisheries. When Rupert Howes took the helm of the MSC in late 2004, only 10 fisheries had been certified.
“I am greatly honored to be the recipient of a Leaders for a Living Planet Award,” said Howes. “But I am accepting this on behalf of the many fishermen, processors, caterers, retailers and chefs around the world who are demonstrating environmental leadership and making bold commitments to sustainability — their efforts are helping to transform the global seafood market to a sustainable basis.
“Together we have already achieved a great deal,” Howes added. “Yet much more remains to be done and urgently. I look forward to building on the achievements of the first decade and working with our partners toward our shared vision of the world’s oceans teeming with life, and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations.”
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