A new report by Shark Guardian claims the Marine Stewardship Council is ignoring fishery observer reports that found negligent and illegal practices in fishing operations in the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
The report, “Behind the Blue Tick,” claims MSC-certified vessels have been witnessed participating in illegal fishing practices that have gone ignored. According to the report, 330 incidents of shark, ray, dolphin, and cetacean interactions occurred on MSC-certified vessels, and in most of these cases, the species were mistreated.
Shark Guardian said the evidence, comprised of unreleased fishery observer data obtained from whistleblowers, highlights “systemic problems” in the MSC that have gone unaddressed.
“Way more needs to be done to ensure that those who consider themselves the arbiters of ocean sustainability are themselves held to the highest standard. If the MSC's seal of sustainability cannot be trusted, then what is the actual point?” Shark Guardian Co-Founder Brendon Sing said. “Enough is enough. The dirt we've uncovered with our two reports over the last 12 months deserves more than lip service from the MSC. They must stop using the service of rotten assessors."
The report claims observers witnessed MSC-certified vessels deliberately setting nets around live whales, dolphins, and whale sharks; an MSC-certified vessel trying to use auxiliary boats to scare a trapped whale instead of ceasing fishing operations and safely releasing it; regular illegal, unlicensed, and unregulated fishing in the form of unreported fishing; high grading of catch on MSC-certified vessels; engagement in fish-aggregating device fishing during closures; and vessels discharging marine pollution.
The report said it builds on an earlier report, “Slipping Through the Net,” and examines how the MSC addressed issues with its accreditation body, Assurance Service International, which Shark Guardian claims it raised.
One of the core issues, Shark Guardian claims, is that the conformity assessment bodies (CABs) the MSC relies on to do independent audits fail to properly examine observer reports.
“We fail to understand how a CAB can assess any fishery against the MSC fisheries standard without observer reports being examined, even in the most cursory way,” Shark Guardian Marine Wildlife Campaigner Alex Hofford said in a release.
The MSC said that the newest report “largely repeats” the same accusations that Shark Guardian made in its last report – which it said the organization has already investigated.
“When Shark Guardian raised these concerns before, the MSC immediately asked the relevant certification bodies and the independent oversight body, Assurance Services International, which oversees our third-party certification activities, to investigate the claims,” an MSC spokesperson said. “They concluded that Shark Guardian’s allegations were not based on verifiable evidence or did not correctly understand government regulations and the requirements of Marine Stewardship Council certification.”
Sing said the review was just a “slap on the wrist” against the CABs, which continued to ignore fishery observer reports.
“We found that CABs failed to follow up on numerous problems reported by observers and made no attempt to interview whistleblower observers,” Sing said. “Without interviewing observers, who are the ‘eyes and ears’ of civil society on the ocean –the CABs have failed in their duty.”
The MSC spokesperson said all of the MSC’s findings from the CAB review, and all findings of its certification process, are publicly available.
“The comprehensive findings of the independent review of Shark Guardian’s allegations are publicly available and speak to the transparency and rigor of the MSC certification process,” the spokesperson said. “No other sustainable seafood certification or ratings process has such a level of public scrutiny, or independent checks and balances to ensure that allegations are investigated and acted upon if proved.”
Photo courtesy of Shark Guardian
