The Marine Stewardship Council is revising its approach to its implementation of version 3.0 of its fisheries standard after receiving numerous complaints.
Published in October 2022, MSC Version 3.0 came into effect for new fisheries in May 2023, with previously certified fisheries given six years to enter compliance. The standard review and update for version 3.0 began in 2018 and was considered the most comprehensive review ever conducted by the organization.
“Since its release, we have engaged in an intensive roll-out program, testing the new requirements with fisheries and gathering extensive feedback from independent assessors and fishery partners at workshops held around the world,” MSC U.S. Senior Public Relations Manager Jackie Marks said in an email. “This process has highlighted areas that need to be amended. As a result, the MSC will release an updated standard in July 2024 to ensure its requirements are applied consistently and deliver the intended sustainability outcomes.”
Certification to the new standard has not been paused, according to Marks, with some fisheries continuing to move into version 3. Marks said MSC has suggested those that received a favorable pre-assessment consider moving forward with their certification to the 3.0 standard. However, some fisheries now have the option to stay on Version 2 for longer.
"In light of the changes, fisheries are being given the option of continuing to use Version 2.01 ... for a further two years while we review some of the issues that have arisen. Not all MSC-certified fisheries have been impacted by this," she said.
According to Marks, under a new derogation, the MSC Version 2.01 standard will apply to new fisheries entering the certification beginning 1 February 2024 through 1 February 2026, while currently certified fisheries will have until 1 November 2030 to transition to the updated Version 3.0.
“The extended timelines will allow all changes to Version 3 to be made and thoroughly tested before fisheries are required to be assessed against the updated standard,” Marks said.
Marks said the release of the updated standard in July 2024 will be followed by an independent review of the new evidence requirements framework (ERF).
“The ERF is a new approach to the assessment of evidence in the MSC program, and the board agreed at launch that it would be reviewed to ensure it is working as intended,” Marks said. “This will begin in July 2024, led by experts in fisheries assessment. Among the issues to be addressed is whether the framework can be applied in a more efficient manner, leading to less complexity and cost. Input from NGO and industry stakeholders will be sought in the course of the review.”
MSC Fisheries Head Jay Lugar said the London, U.K.-based organization made the move after receiving feedback from fishing industry groups around the world.
"There have been challenges, and that's why we are taking the action we are today to make sure there's clarity, so people can see the bar they need to meet and can do so efficiently," Lugar told the CBC. "We missed the mark in some of the elements and some of the clarities I think that were needed in Version 3 of the standard, which is why we're undertaking this pause.”
Atlantic Groundfish Council Sustainability Director Steve Devitt, who represents five MSC-certified fisheries in Eastern Canada, said he was relieved by MSC’s decision.
"We have all had significant concerns," Devitt told the CBC. "We're pleased to see that the MSC have recognized they need to put the brakes on this and have some consideration about what the outcome of this could be in the worldview.”
Devitt said a previously MSC-certified Canadian fishery he declined to name had failed a test run of an assessment against the new 200-page standard.
"If all of a sudden fisheries that perform very highly against the gold standard – because the MSC standard is the gold standard for eco-certification for wild-capture fisheries – it would not look good to have ... their performance be significantly changed without any actual change in the practice of the fishery,” he said.
One major problem with MSC Version 3.0 was its requirement that fisheries prove damage as a result of gear be "demonstrably absent."
"How do you prove that?” Devitt said. “Well, it's essentially impossible to prove that a loss – a piece of lost gear – has zero impact. We don't know how to do that. That phrase in particular is a concern to us and requires clarification. Are you talking about the gear itself? Are you saying that there should be no lost gear?"
Lugar promised the ghost gear issue will be fixed in the update.
"That is one particular element that we are definitely going to address in this amended version," he said.
Shortcomings with Version 3.0 were due in part to introducing the standard without "hardcore" testing on actual fisheries, according to Lugar.
Photo courtesy of Marine Stewardship Council
