The House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) on Friday published its report following its Sustainable Seas inquiry, which recommends the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deal with issues raised during the inquiry fby WWF, professor Callum Roberts and others through an independent review.

The inquiry specifically looked into the effectiveness of the MSC fishery certification scheme and eco-label and held an oral evidence session with MSC CEO Rupert Howes on Sept. 11, 2018.

"To ensure continued consumer confidence in the MSC certification, we recommend the MSC addresses specific criticisms raised… into its five-year review and strengthens its standard accordingly," said the report.

These criticisms include its unit of assessment, the need to factor in carbon from ships into its standard, concerns about shark finning and barriers to entry for small-scale fisheries.

"The review should be transparent and ideally independently evaluated," it said.

The EAC’s recommendations were welcomed by On the Hook, a coalition campaign focused on the recertification of the PNA tuna fishery and the need for MSC Standard reform to require all fisheries to be assessed holistically.

On the Hook has repeatedly called for an independent review of the MSC’s Standard and its application.

"I’m delighted that the Environmental Audit Committee has recommended the Marine Stewardship Council address the issues raised during this inquiry by strengthening its standard with a transparent independent review," said professor Callum Roberts, a spokesperson for On the Hook.

"An independent review would offer the best possible opportunity to deal with issues highlighted by stakeholders, including unit of assessment and shark finning, and ensure the future credibility of the MSC eco-label."

The MSC, too, welcomed the publication of the report, highlighting its more positive findings and adding its hopes that the report "will galvanize action in securing a healthy future for our oceans."

The inquiry included an examination of the MSC program and its effectiveness, said Erin Priddle, UK Program Director at the MSC, with the report concluding that The Marine Stewardship Council standard is "the market leader and the most rigorous certification in the seafood sector."

"The report reflects the complex, often polarized views around seafood certification," said Priddle.

While some claim the bar is too low, others warn that it isbecoming too high even for world leading fisheries.

"This illustrates the challenge of a global standard: if the bar is raised too high, it risks preventing fisheries – such as small scale and developing world fisheries – from ever reaching that bar."

The report recommends that the ongoing Fisheries Standard Review should address specific criticisms of Unit of Assessment, the holistic assessment of fisheries, carbon emissions from fishing boats, shark finning, and barriers to entry for small scale fisheries.

With the exception of carbon emissions, all of these subjects are being addressed in the Fisheries Standard Review currently underway, or in separate consultations taking place in 2019, said Priddle.

The UK Government will now have to consider the report and respond formally to its findings and recommendations.

Fisheries

UK Parliamentary inquiry calls for independent review of MSC