Marine Stewardship Council ( MSC )
www.msc.org

Marine Stewardship Council is an independent, global, non-profit organization that was set up to find the solution to the problem of over-fishing. It was first established by Unilever, the world's largest buyer of seafood and World Wide Fund (WWF ), the international conservation organization in 1997. MSC became fully independent from both organizations in 1999 and are funded by a wide range of organizations including charitable organizations and corporate organizations around the world.

What is Sustainability?

A well managed and sustainable fishery protects the fish and the environment in which they live whilst allowing responsible use of the species that come from it. It will ensure that there is a future for the industry and all those who depend on the fisheries for their livelihoods

MSC Mission

MSC's mission is to improve the health of the world's oceans and contribute to creating a sustainable global seafood market. MSC wants to encourage fisheries around the world to meet their rigorous, science-based standard for environmentally responsible and sustainable fishing.

What is MSC Standard?

The MSC standard is a set of internationally recognized principles and Chain of Custody methodology for measuring fisheries to assess if they are well managed and sustainable. It is based on the UN FAO guidelines and involves an international fishery certification and eco-labeling programme. This programme uses a product eco-label to reward environmentally responsible fishery management and practices.

Three Principles of the MSC Standard

Principle 1 – The condition of the fish stocks

This examines if there are enough fish to ensure that the fishery is sustainable.

Principle 2 – The impact of the fishery on the marine environment

This examines the effect that the fishing has on the immediate marine environment including other non-target fish species, marine mammals and seabirds.

Principle 3 – The fishery management systems

This principle evaluates the rules and procedures that are in place, as well as how they are implemented, to maintain a sustainable fishery and to ensure that the impact on the marine environment is minimized.

Murdock the Fisherman's Cat is the official mascot for Fish & Kids project. Did you know that Murdock also means " Protector of the Sea"?

KNOWLEDGE…

Did You Know Fish Are Running Out?

Fishing is an important global industry and the livelihoods of millions of people around the world depend upon this vital food resource. Fish stocks need to be protected. But there are negative impacts associated fishing like how it affects the marine ecosystem and the problem of overfishing. Overfishing means catching more fish than nature can reproduce.

What Is Sustainable Fishing?

Many fishers are aware of the threats of overfishing. They are now pioneering new practices and techniques to ensure there are plenty of fish to catch year after year. Sustainable management recognizes that there is also a responsibility to look after the marine ecosystem and ensure that fishing practices are in balance with the local ecology. Every year, fishers undergo the MSC assessment for about a year because of detailed and rigorous process. One of the MSC's unique features is that all the interested parties can comment on the assessment to make sure that it is fair and reflects all the issue at stake. If the fisheries pass, it means that they are meeting the MSC's environmental standard.

The Importance Of Eating Fish

Fish is an essential component of our diets. Fish is also a low-fat food and provides a good source of protein, minerals and vitamins. Oil-rich fish contains Omega-3 which is a special fatty acid with many beneficial health properties. It helps to keep bones strong, maintain a healthy heart to prevent cardiovascular disease and can improve concentration too. That's why Grandma always said that fish is also a "brain food" for a reason.

The MSC Eco-label

The MSC Eco-label identifies sustainable fish. It is a distinctive blue oval with a white fish tick inside. Consumers can choose products carrying this label in the shops to support fishers who are fishing responsibly. They can be confident that the fish comes from sustainable source that has been independently assessed. This helps to make sure there will be fish to catch in the future and marine ecosystems are healthy.

Alaska Pollock

Alaska Pollock ( Theragra Chalcogramma )

It is the largest food fish resource in the world. More than 3 million Metric Tonnes of Alaska Pollock are caught each year in the North Pacific from Alaska to Japan, the bulk of which are fished from the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska. The large continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea and the favourable ocean currents extant in the region provide a rich mix of nutrients to sustain large populations of Pollock and other ground fish species. Conservative management ensures that these important fish stocks are sustainably managed. Additional management measure have also been instituted to avoid any hypothetical competition between commercial fishing and the stellar Sea Lions which feed on Pollock. The US Fishery in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands is the largest MSC certified fishery, with average annual landings of 1.1 million Metric Tonnes over the past 20 years. The primary market for Alaska Pollock products are Japan, the US and EU. Japan is the principal market for minced fish and roe products. The US and EU are the main markets for fillet-type products. In late 2010, MSC-labelled seafood is available in 70 countries and the Alaska Pollock is the one species that can be found in almost every market. Pacific West is also a proud supporter of responsible and sustainable fisheries where you can find the blue MSC eco-label on our packaging which is certainly certified sustainable seafood from MSC.