In 2013-14, the MSC has committed to undertake a review of the MSC fishery Standard for sustainable fishing. The review focuses on the MSC fishery assessment and other fishery client performance requirements on topics including benthic impacts, unit of certification, bycatch and discards. Stakeholder feedback is an integral part of the review process. This second round of consultation and all public comment is now open until 26th October at http://improvements.msc.org/
Welcome to the MSC's program improvements siteimprovements.msc.org
To keep our oceans teeming with life and safeguard seafood supplies for the future, the MSC offers the world's leading certification program for fisheries to demonstrate they are sustainable. But science and industry do not stand still, and as we...
MSC has committed to undertake a review of the Fisheries Standard (FSR) in 2013. The full list of program improvements currently open for public consultation (11 September - 26 October 2013) is shown in the table below:
Topic | Program improvements description |
|---|---|
| Principle 1: Sustainable fish stock | To provide clarifications and guidance when assessing the sustainability of fish stock. Two sub-projects are included:
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| Principle 2: Minimising environmental impact | To ensure consistency and to reflect best practice throughout Principle 2, including:
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| Principle 3: Effective management | To consider changes to the performance indicators used to assess fisheries management systems. |
| Risk Based Framework | To improve on the three aspects of the risk based framework (RBF):
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| Fishery Process Issues | To provide additional guidance and clarity to three sections:
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If you would like more information about the FSR, please contact Dan Hoggarth (Fisheries Oversight Director) at Dan.Hoggarth@msc.org.
In addition, the MSC will undertake a Speed and Cost Review (SCR) in parallel to the FSR, to review and reform the assessment process. The aim is to reduce the time, cost and complexity of certification.
Current status
The MSC Fisheries Standard Review is currently open for public to comment until 26th October 2013. Anyone can view the program improvements proposed by the MSC and share their expertise and experience through the consultation.Planned work
The development stage of the FSR includes various opportunities for stakeholders like you to provide feedback. These opportunities include broad online consultation and in-person workshops for project items that receive high level of stakeholder interest. See planned activities for the FSR below:| Date | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 September - 26 October | Late-stage online consultation on all policy topics | The MSC Program Improvements website |
| 25 September | Stakeholder webinar - Fisheries Standard Review and Speed and Cost Review topics | Remotely To register, please send email to standards@msc.org |
| 26 September | Stakeholder webinar - Chain of Custody topics | Remotely To register, please send email to standards@msc.org |
| 16-17 September | Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) consultation | London, UK |
| 7-8 October | Latin America workshop | Santiago, Chile |
| 9-13 December | Technical Advisory Board (TAB) and Stakeholder Council (StC) meeting | Lisbon, Portugal To become an observer, please register at standards@msc.org |
