MSC RECOGNISED AT FAO 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

MSC recognised at FAO 80th anniversary celebrations for advancing sustainable aquatic food systems. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has been recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for its contribution to the responsible and sustainable development of fisheries.

The ceremony, which took place yesterday (October 15) in Rome, was part of the celebrations of the FAO’s 80^th anniversary, and the 30^th anniversary of the FAO-led Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The ceremony honoured practices and innovations that have supported the FAO’s overall goal to defeat hunger, achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

Organisations being considered for recognition by the FAO were asked to demonstrate their impact and explain how it has contributed to its goals. They were also expected to demonstrate that their approach benefits a wide range of stakeholders, is applicable to other regions and contexts and that they have made efforts to promote its wider adoption. 

The MSC was founded more than 25 years ago to tackle the global challenge of overfishing and to implement the principles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.  Thirty years ago, in 1995, 160 countries came together to adopt the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the most comprehensive set of guidelines and principles developed to govern the sustainable and responsible use of fishery resources while preserving marine ecosystems for future generations. ​

Today, 20.7% of total global marine catch comes from 738 fisheries that are engaged with the MSC across 63 countries. Fisheries certified to the MSC’s Standard must be fishing from stocks that are healthy and sustainable, minimise their environmental impact on other species and habitats, and have effective management systems in place.

Fisheries which are certified to the MSC Standard are widely regarded as world leaders in sustainability practices and must meet a science-based standard which requires them to prove they are fishing from stocks that are healthy and sustainable, minimising their environmental impact on other species and habitats, and that they have effective management systems in place.

A wide range of fishery types achieve certification, from small-scale coastal operations to large industrial fleets, demonstrating the scalability of the MSC Standards. The programme works across diverse fishing methods including trawl, longline, handline, pot and trap, and pole and line. It engages fisheries catching over 200 species, from high-value tuna to small pelagics essential for food security.