seafood all over the place
credible arbiters of certifications, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), require detailed environmental and traceability standards.
although these standards have been met in many commercial fisheries throughout the developed world ( 3), developing country fisheries (DCFs) represent only 7% of ~220 total MSC-certified fisheries ( 4, 5).
with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reporting that developing countries account for ~50% of seafood entering international trade, this presents a fundamental challenge for marketers of sustainable seafood.
some people are comfortable with the idea that seafood eaten in Europe is sustainable because are under the European Union rules and stock management plans.
but much seafood in Europe is imported.
imports represent around two thirds of the Portuguese seafood supply.
fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are an alternative to the established certification schemes (e.g MSC) with the goal is to certify small-scale fisheries, that have lower budget and resources to deal with formal procedures.
FIPs pretend to improve a specific fishery by pressing for better policies and management, while voluntarily changing purchasing and fishing practices to reduce problems such as illegal fishing, bycatch, and habitat impacts.
but a recently publication raises concern regarding to FIPs consequences at developing countries, where FIPs may do little for environmental, economic, and social sustainability without investments in understanding the social-ecological systems in which they operate.
some of those countries might need seafood as an important source of animal protein food and it is not possible to compete with the possible added value that those products gain if they are exported.
there is not much one can do apart from choosing responsible seafood as much as possible.
among other information, the new EU's new fish and aquaculture consumer labels will have fishing gear category and catch area as mandatory information in all unprocessed and prepacked fresh products.
it can help for the global seafood market transparency.
although these standards have been met in many commercial fisheries throughout the developed world ( 3), developing country fisheries (DCFs) represent only 7% of ~220 total MSC-certified fisheries ( 4, 5).
with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reporting that developing countries account for ~50% of seafood entering international trade, this presents a fundamental challenge for marketers of sustainable seafood.
but much seafood in Europe is imported.
imports represent around two thirds of the Portuguese seafood supply.
fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are an alternative to the established certification schemes (e.g MSC) with the goal is to certify small-scale fisheries, that have lower budget and resources to deal with formal procedures.
FIPs pretend to improve a specific fishery by pressing for better policies and management, while voluntarily changing purchasing and fishing practices to reduce problems such as illegal fishing, bycatch, and habitat impacts.
but a recently publication raises concern regarding to FIPs consequences at developing countries, where FIPs may do little for environmental, economic, and social sustainability without investments in understanding the social-ecological systems in which they operate.
some of those countries might need seafood as an important source of animal protein food and it is not possible to compete with the possible added value that those products gain if they are exported.
there is not much one can do apart from choosing responsible seafood as much as possible.
among other information, the new EU's new fish and aquaculture consumer labels will have fishing gear category and catch area as mandatory information in all unprocessed and prepacked fresh products.
it can help for the global seafood market transparency.