London (UK) – Project UK is a collaborative partnership working towards an environmentally sustainable future for UK fisheries through the implementation of credible Fishery Improvement Projects.
The MSC is working with NGOs, governments, retailers and funders around the world to create a pathway to sustainability, especially for small-scale fisheries and fisheries in developing countries.
They develop a Pathway to Sustainability program to support all fisheries in their efforts to improve the environmental performance of their fishing practices and meet the level of the MSC Fisheries Standard.
The program has a particular focus on supporting small-scale fisheries and fisheries located in developing regions. Small-scale fisheries supply around half of the global catch and employ more than 90% of people working for fisheries, the vast majority of whom live in developing regions.
However, such fisheries are currently under-represented in the MSC program. In 2020/21, 19% of the global seafood catch was engaged in the MSC program (meaning certified, in assessment or suspended), but only 20% of this catch came from fisheries in developing regions. This is because small-scale fisheries and those in developing regions are more likely to face additional challenges in meeting our Standard, including a lack of:
- Data on aspects such as stock assessments and impacts on habitats.
- Knowledge and skills required to successfully implement improvements required by a fishery.
- Knowledge of the MSC Fisheries Standard and how it can be applied.
- Effective legal frameworks to support compliance and enforcement of the fishery management system