The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched its 2017 policy development round, opening up six areas of the MSC program to consultation from stakeholders on sustainable fishing and traceability standards.
The areas in this development round cover a wide range of topics, from harmonising fisheries assessment outcomes and ensuring traceability of certified product within fisheries, to a new standard to manage the mixing of MSC-certified and non-certified fish feed ingredients.
The MSC is also asking for stakeholder input on the development of a new standard for seaweed that is being developed jointly with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), a new program to recognise fisheries that are In transition to MSC, and an update for how to confirm the absence of forced labour in certified fisheries and supply chain organisations.
The MSC is committed to continually evolving and updating our program so that we reference the best available scientific research, remain relevant to a global market and incorporate the most effective management practices adopted in the industry, pointed out Dan Hoggarth, Head of Standards Governance.
Hoggarth also stressed that to ensure that all the changes made to the program are effective and proportionate, both current and prospective stakeholders are strongly encouraged to participate in this round of consultations.
The consultations are open until April 30, with the exception of the consultation on labour practices, which closes on May 14.
Detailed policy information and options to provide input are available on the MSC’s Program Improvements site.
The MSC will also host a public webinar on April 6 about the improvements under consultation where stakeholders are invited to ask questions.
As to one of the topics for consultation, labour practices, the proposal is for a self-declaration by certificate holders and those in assessment confirming the absence of forced and child labour in their operations.
In this consultation, the MSC will collect stakeholder feedback on a proposed process for providing such self-declarations. The consultation period will run from March 15 to May 14, 2017.
Meanwhile, the In Transition to MSC’ program provides both a pathway and recognition for fisheries making progress towards achieving MSC certification. This is the first consultation for this new program.
The MSC are collecting opinions about the entry requirements for the program, the time frame that fisheries will be able to stay in the program and a credible verification system that confirms if fisheries are making progress.
Another topic for consultation is Fishery Assessment Harmonisation, where fisheries from the same region, with the same target species should achieve the same scores and be required to make the same improvements when assessed against the MSC Standard even when they are assessed by different people. Called harmonisation, this outcome is being developed as part of the MSC Simplification project. In this consultation period, the MSC is collecting opinions on the best way to achieve harmonisation.
Mass Balance Chain of Custody Standard is being developed by the MSC, which defines how MSC certified marine ingredients are mixed with non-certified but approved marine ingredients in ASC compliant fish feed.
This standard is initially only for use by fish feed mills seeking certification against the new ASC Feed Standard. It is for business-to-business use only.
The MSC want to know if this is an effective and auditable standard. They are also collecting opinions on how the ASC Feed Standard and MSC Mass Balance Standard can work together. The new standard will hopefully be released in early 2018.
In addition, as part of a greater review of its Chain of Custody Standard, the MSC are collecting ideas on how traceability can be improved at the start of the certified supply chain. Proposals include improved application of Chain of Custody to at-sea activities, earlier consideration of traceability in the fishery assessment process, and more support for assessment bodies in deciding the level of risk for traceability and deciding where Chain of Custody should begin.
Furthermore, there are two separate consultations on the ASCMSC Seaweed Program in this development round, which will be the final two before the new Seaweed Standard is released into a pilot phase later this year.
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