Introduction to seafood ratings Contents 1 Introduction 03 2 What are ‘fish ratings’? 04 2.1 How can fish ratings help you? 06 2.2 How our ratings are used 07 2.3 How can fish ratings help the fishing and fish farming industries? 08 3 How do MCS ratings work? 09 3.1 Colour ratings 09 3.2 The decision-making process 13 3.3 When do rating updates take place? 13 3.4 How can ratings change? 13

Appendices i Good Fish Guide Update Schedule 14 ii Industry Review Group (IRG) Core Group Members (2016) 15

Table of tables

table 1 Relationship between combined score and overall rating 11

table 2 Weighting of sustainability criteria 11

table 3 Relationship between combined score and overall rating 13

table 4 Good Fish Guide update timescales 13 Table of figures

figure 1 Overview of wild capture ratings process 10

figure 2 Overview of farmed ratings process 12 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings 1 Introduction

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and marine wildlife. MCS works to turn the tide on the neglect of our oceans.

Decades of pollution, damaging fisheries and aquaculture, rapid and extensive development, and climate change have resulted in seas that are far less healthy than they should be – too many fish are being taken from the sea, too much waste is going in and too little is being done to protect marine wildlife and habitats. To achieve our vision of Seas Full of Life – seas and coasts where nature flourishes and people thrive - MCS focuses its work in 3 key areas: --Responsible fisheries and aquaculture --Clean seas --Ocean recovery MCS believes consumers and businesses have a key role to play in securing the future health of our seas and marine wildlife by making environmentally responsible choices when buying seafood. This means avoiding fish that has come from poorly managed fisheries or fish farms that have a high environmental impact in favour of buying fish from well managed sources with a lower impact that are better for our seas and oceans.

By rating seafood against a number of sustainability criteria to produce “at-a-glance” ratings, MCS aims to help consumers and businesses make the right choices.

Our ratings are easily accessible at www.goodfishguide.org , also available as a smartphone app (iPhone and Android) and as a hardcopy pocket Good Fish Guide. If you have specific questions or you would like to share This document provides an introduction to our seafood your comments or have information that we could use ratings and explains what they are, how they’re used, to better inform our assessments, please contact us at: and how they can help consumers and businesses make responsible choices and encourage lower impact Marine Conservation Society seafood production. Overross House Ross Park To provide transparency for our ratings process, we have Ross-on-Wye also produced detailed wild capture and farmed ratings Herefordshire methodologies: HR9 7US Wild Capture Methodology -- Tel: 01989 566 017 --Farmed Seafood Methodology Email: [email protected]

3 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings 2 What are 'fish ratings'?

MCS assigns ratings to both farmed and wild caught fish. These ratings reflect the sustainability and environmental impact of the fishery or production method in question and are a way of communicating the relative sustainability of seafood in an easy to understand and familiar “traffic light” format. We use five different colours – from dark green to red - to represent each of the 5 ratings.

For each farmed fish or fishery1, the 1 – 5 ratings arise from the assessment undertaken against key criteria MCS considers reflect the issues of greatest concerns for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

For wild capture fisheries, these are: stock or species status; management; and ecological impacts of the fishing or capture method.

For farmed fish, these are: feed sourcing and use; environmental impacts and interactions; fish welfare; and regulations and management.

Section 3 explores these criteria in more depth. What do we want to achieve by rating fish?

Fish has played a central role in the diets of humans for MCS recognises the vital importance of fisheries and fish millennia. Traditionally, it has provided an accessible farming – from their role in providing essential protein and low-cost protein with many of the world’s poorest to the contribution they make in supporting the social people depending on fishing and fish farming for their and economic prosperity of producing countries. livelihood. In 2013, fish accounted for about 17% of the global population’s intake of animal protein and By encouraging consumers and commercial fish provided more than 3.1 billion people with almost 20% buyers to use our ratings to make the best choices of their average intake of animal protein2. available, MCS aims to support and grow the market for the most responsible fisheries and farms. Fish is also an excellent source of nutrients and is Increasing demand for responsibly produced fish perceived by many as a healthier alternative to other will help ensure the marine environment is in the animal proteins. best condition possible, in order to support healthy and thriving seas, people and economies. For these reasons fish will continue to form a major part of our diets into the future and demand for seafood will undoubtedly continue to rise as the world’s human population increases. Looking after our seas and managing how we catch and farm fish has never been more important as it is today. Fish plays a key role in global ‘food security’ (a reliable and sustainable supply of food that meets the need of current and future generations) and as such the issue of its continued supply through effective and sustainable management must be taken seriously.

1 A fishery, defined in terms of species, area of capture, stock or sub area and capture method, is the sum of all fishing activities on a given resource e.g. North Sea cod fishery or it may also refer to a single type or style of fishing e.g. trawl fishery 2 FAO, 2016. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2016. Contributing to food security and nutrition for all. Rome. 200 pp. Available at www.fao.org/3/a-i5555e.pdf [Accessed 21/7/17].

4 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

Scope of MCS ratings

There are many important issues associated with producing seafood. In addition to issues associated with the direct sustainability of the fishery or farming method, there are issues associated, but not limited to, social issues such as labour rights; the use of genetic modification technology (GM); and issues related to carbon energy use and food miles.

Whilst we acknowledge these are important issues in determining the environmental and ethical sustainability of seafood supply, the scope of MCS seafood ratings does not extend to criteria taking account of such issues. Instead, we refer to other organisations with dedicated staff and expertise in these areas. Who we work with

MCS works with a wide range of stakeholders, including MCS Good Fish Guide ratings also underpin the the fishing and farming sectors, consumers, retailers, sustainability advice for fish offered by the following suppliers, and government in order to encourage them initiatives: to support and implement best environmental practices and policies. --Cornwall Wildlife Trust Good Seafood Guide We work with organisations such as the Cornwall, --Fish2Fork Yorkshire and Dorset Wildlife Trusts, Inshore Fisheries Soil Association Food For Life Served Here Award Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) and the National -- Marine Aquarium in Plymouth to increase the regional --Sustainable Fish City profile of our seafood work and promote local and more Sustainable Restaurant Association sustainably produced fish. --

In the UK, we import more seafood than we export Our ratings are also used by a number of major fish which means we trade on a global market and therefore suppliers and retailers such as M&J, Direct Seafoods, have the potential to influence the sustainability of Compass Group UK and Ireland, Brakes, Bidvest, The fisheries and farms from around the world. To better Co-operative and Morrisons. To see more businesses that inform this global element of our ratings and seafood use MCS ratings, visit our Seafood Wall of Fame . work, MCS has partnered with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch (SFW) and is also one of the founding Since 2012, the Department for Environment, Food members of the Global Seafood Ratings Alliance (GSRA); and Rural Affairs (Defra) Government Buying Standards a collaboration that aims to improve the effectiveness, (GBS) for public sector food and catering services require efficiency and influence of seafood rating organisations that all fish procured are demonstrably sustainable i.e. around the world. includes MCS Best Choice (green rated) and that no ‘red list’ or endangered species of farmed or wild fish shall be used i.e. MCS Fish to Avoid. In 2016, MCS Good Fish Guide ratings informed the sustainability of well over The GBS considerably improves the sustainability of approximately one third of seafood supplied to this 300 million seafood meals. sector, worth an estimated £17 million (2013).

5 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

2.1 How can fish ratings help you?

Fish and its products are some of the most widely traded commodities In 2016 our in the world. Supply chains can be long and complex, with fish changing hands many times in many places. For this reason, seafood can come from goodfishguide.org a bewildering number of sources, making it difficult for consumers to make website received 514,101 straightforward and informed choices about the fish they want to buy. page views; 450,000 Our fish ratings have been developed to help consumers and businesses Good Fish Guide make choices that support well-managed fisheries and fish farms that have a lower environmental impact. If you like to eat or buy seafood then our ratings leaflets were distributed; can help you make informed choices about the fish you buy, whilst helping to and our award winning achieve food security for future generations. MCS produce almost 700 ratings, providing clear information on the sustainability for around 150 species of app was downloaded wild-caught and farmed fish. 10, 497 times.

Our fish ratings can be obtained through the following resources: --Good Fish Guide - Website www.goodfishguide.org --Good Fish Guide - Leaflet www.mcsuk.org/media/seafood/PocketGoodFishGuide.pdf --Good Fish Guide - Smartphone app for Android and iPhone www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/good-fish-guide-app

What’s your impact on our seas? 1 LOW eat You can play a key role in securing the future of 2 our seas and marine wildlife by making more environmentally responsible choices when 3 MEDIUM think buying seafood. 4 Make the right choice and reduce 5 HIGH avoid your impact - every purchase matters!

6 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

2.2 How our ratings are used

The sustainability of fish products varies depending on how and where the fish is caught or farmed, so to make an informed choice and to use our ratings, some basic information about the origins of the seafood is needed. sustainably fished This is why it is important for seafood products to have clear labelling, including: on pack, billboards, counter displays and menus.

The type of information required on European Union responsibly farmed (EU) seafood labels has improved in recent years and now requires the key pieces of information below to be included (among other things). For all unprocessed and some processed seafood higher welfare standards products: --Commercial Name of the species e.g. cod or yellowfin tuna; organic --Scientific name (this will help reduce ambiguity in situations where different common names are used to describe the same fish or where different fish are called the same common name); There is still however a lot of room for mandatory Method of production i.e. labels have to say -- seafood labelling to improve. No information is as yet whether the fish was caught at sea, in inland required for the farming method (eg. open net pens) to waters or was farmed; be included for farmed fish (which represents over half --Catch area for wild-caught fish e.g. Northeast the fish we consume in the UK). Furthermore, the above Atlantic (FAO27). Fish caught in the Northeast details are not required on processed fish products Atlantic and Mediterranean and Black Sea must (for example, canned fish), or to fish products sold by also include the name of the sub-area or division, caterers which are ready for consumption without along with a name that is easy for the consumer further preparation. to understand eg. North Sea Our ratings also take account of whether the seafood --Production country for farmed fish e.g. Greece or under assessment is certified to a recognised standard or Scotland; not (e.g. MSC or ASC). --Fishing gear used to catch wild fish e.g. trawl or Look out for the below certifications or ecolabels on hooks and lines; or your seafood.

7 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

2.3 How can fish ratings help the fishing and fish farming industries?

Fishing and fish farming are not only businesses but a way of life, that make an important contribution to both our economy and to our society, and MCS wants this contribution to continue for future generations. When fisheries and farms are well managed, they are more stable and profitable, which in turn means we have healthy seas which can support local communities long into the future.

MCS uses fish ratings to identify issues within fisheries and fish farms that need help to improve, and we are keen to play a role in finding solutions to those issues too.

We also use our ratings to highlight best practices Our seas and our future health, wealth and encourage support for the best environmental and well-being are inextricably linked. performers – this is our way of supporting and encouraging responsible businesses. Clean seas and beaches, healthy fish

MCS wants to see an increase in the number of ‘green’ stocks and proper marine protection rated fish and a reduction in ‘red’ rated species. We are supports tourism, livelihoods, habitats working towards a day when we won’t need a red-list and wildlife. of ‘fish to avoid’ and ultimately, MCS wants sustainable seafood to be the only choice for consumers. Our Seas our Future, MCS Strategy 2015-2020

8 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings 3 How do MCS ratings work?

MCS ratings are informed and underpinned by scientific data and information from respected and peer-reviewed sources.

New information about fisheries and farming methods comes to light all the time and as a result we update our Good Fish Guide database twice a year. Most wild capture ratings are reviewed annually. Farmed fish ratings are reviewed and updated on a 3-year basis, with an annual “health check” for key species. New assessments and re-evaluations can also be triggered if there is a significant change that is likely to affect the environmental performance of the fishery or fish farm.

Our ratings are informed by a number of criteria representing key issues of environmental concern for MCS. Individual assessments against these criteria result in the combined overall ‘score’ which corresponds to a colour - green, amber or red. 3.1 Colour ratings Everything we do has an impact on the natural environment and even though we can’t always see under the surface of the water, many things we do and the seafood we buy have a serious impact on our oceans too.

To help consumers and businesses understand these impacts, MCS applies a familiar traffic-light colour scheme to its seafood ratings.

Green ratings represent fisheries and fish farming methods with the lowest environmental impact and red represent those with the greatest impact, with amber ratings ranging between the two.

Dark Green 1 Best Choice Indicates the most sustainably caught or farmed fish. Best

Light Green Choice 2 Good Choice Indicates sustainably caught or responsibly farmed fish.

Yellow 3 OK Indicates fish which are an OK choice, but require some improvements Think Orange 4 Requires Improvements Indicates fish which are some way from being sustainably caught or farmed and require significant improvements. We recommend that you seek alternatives where you can. Red 5 Avoid Fish to Indicates fish from the most unsustainable fisheries or farming systems. We recommend Avoid avoiding these fish (Or encourage businesses to establish a credible improvement project).

Rating 5 Improving 1 2 3 4 5 Indicates fish which have been assessed and rated 5 (red) due to significant environmental concerns yet credible efforts to improve the fishery or farming system have been agreed through a Fisheries or Aquaculture Improvement Project – a FIP or an AIP - and work is underway. Such projects are normally publicly listed at www.fisheryprogress.org. MCS wants to encourage environmental improvements in fisheries and fish farms, and so does not recommend avoiding these fish, as we normally do for seafood rated 5 (red rated), thus providing, we hope, an incentive for businesses to support credible improvement projects.

3 Equivalent to Stage 3 of the US Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS) Fisheries Improvement Guidelines version 3.7.15, available at http://solutionsforseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alliance-FIP-Guidelines-3.7.15.pdf

9 Introduction to MCS Seafood Ratings Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

Commented [SS2]: Need the left facing arrow to be inside the blue boundary – or equivalent with the new website design

Overview of ratings process A) Wild captureOverview of ratings process Wild capture Unit of assessmentUnit of assessment The Unit of Assessment (UoA) for MCS wild capture assessments is the fishery which is The Unit of Assessmenttypically a(UoA) specific for species MCS wild (the capturefocus of assessmentsthe assessment), is the from fishery a specific which geographic is typically stock a4 ,specific species (the focus of the assessment),being fished from with a aspecific particular geographic capture method stock4 ,and being also fished being managedwith a particular in the same capture way. method and also being managed in theWhere same way.there Where is a justification, there is a justification,such as the availabilitysuch as the of availabilitycredible information of credible and information MCS and MCS capacity, finer scale assessmentscapacity, finercan scalebe undertaken. assessments can be undertaken.

An over-view ofAn the over ratings-view processof the ratings for each process fishery for each i.e. combinationfishery i.e. combination of species of andspecies specific and specific area and method of capture we rate is presentedarea and in Figure method 1 ofbelow. capture we rate is presented in Figure 1 below.

The overall methodology for calculating each individual combined score relies on data from a range of sources e.g. stock assessment data; landings and catch data; discard data etc.

Criterion X weighting = SCORE Combined Fishery Criterion = Final Rating Data X weighting = SCORE score

X weighting Criterion The sustainability of = SCORE the fishery is assessed against 3 The criteria combined score corresponds to one of our coloured ratings, 1-5, (green, amber or red), this can be seen in the table below FIGURE 1 OverviewFigure of 1 wild Overview capture of wild ratings capture process ratings process

The criteria against which we measure sustainability are: Management – an assessment of the measures, 4 ‘Stock’ is the term given to a group of individuals in a species occupying a well-defined spatial range monitoring, surveillance and enforcement in place to Stock or Speciesindependent status – ofthe other state stocks of of the the samestock species. i.e. stock A stock will form the basis of a distinct fishery. ensure the stock is well maintained10 and the impacts of size (the total weight of mature or breeding adults) and the fishery mitigated appropriately. Our assessment of fishing pressure measured against recommended safe management also includes consideration of whether the levels or reference points. fishery is already certified as being sustainable by other Where stock data are limited and values for biomass bodies (such as the Marine Stewardship Council) and (B) and fishing pressure (F) are not determined, whether or not the fishery is in a Fisheries Improvement Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) is used where Project (FIP). possible, to assess the ecological effects of fishing on Capture method and ecological effects – an the target species. Where information to use this tool is assessment of the impacts of the capture method on not available, the Fishbase or equivalent score for the non-target species (bycatch), and wider ecosystem, biological resilience of the species is used. In situations and measures implemented to mitigate them. This where this information is not available, the Fishbase or includes whether the fishery is operating within a Marine equivalent score for the vulnerability of the species is Protected Area (MPA), and is compatible or not with the considered. conservation objectives, and legal requirements of the See Glossary for explanation of these and other terms. site (Find out more about UK MPAs at www.mcsuk.org/mpa).

4 ‘Stock’ is the term given to a group of individuals in a species occupying a well-defined spatial range independent of other stocks of the same species. A stock will form the basis of a distinct fishery.

10 Introduction to MCS Seafood Ratings

The criteria against which we measure sustainability are: • Stock or Species status – the state of the stock i.e. stock size (the total weight of mature or breeding adults) and fishing pressure measured against recommended safe levels or reference points. Where stock data are limited and values for biomass (B) and fishing pressure (F) are not determined, Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) is used where possible, to assess the ecological effects of fishing on the target species. Where information to use this tool is not available, the Fishbase or equivalent score for the biological resilience of the species is used. In situations where this information is not available, the Fishbase or equivalent score for the vulnerability of the species is considered. See Glossary for explanation of these and other terms. • Management – an assessment of the measures, monitoring, surveillance and enforcement in place to ensure the stock is well maintained and the impacts of the fishery mitigated appropriately. Our assessment of management also includes consideration of whether the fishery is already certified as being sustainable by other bodies (such as the Marine Stewardship Council) and whether or not the fishery is in a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP). • Capture method and ecological effects – an assessment of the impacts of the capture method on non-target species (bycatch), and wider ecosystem, andMarine measures Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings implemented to mitigate them. This includes whether the fishery is operating within a Marine Protected Area (MPA), and is compatible or not with the conservation objectives, and legal requirements of the site (Find out more about UK MPAs at http://www.mcsuk.org/mpa/).

The relationship between the combined criteria score and the overall rating is presented in Table 1 below. The relationship between the combined criteria score and the overall rating is presented in Table 1 below. Tabletable 1 Relationship 1 Relationship between between combined combined score scoreand overall and overall rating rating Combined criteria score Overall rating Combined criteria score Overall Rating Dark Green Less than 2.5 Dark Green Less than 2.5 Best Choice (Best Choice) Best Choice Light Green Best Choice Between 2.5 and 5 Light Green Between 2.5 and 5 Good Choice (Good Choice) Yellow BetweenFrom 5 to 7.5 5 and including Yellow7.5 (OK) OK Orange Think Think Orange BetweenBetween 7.5 7.5and and10 10 (Fishery requires Introduction to MCS Seafood Ratings improvement)Requires Improvements Red 1010 and and more, more, up to up max. to of max. 15 ofRed 15 (Unsustainable) Fish to Avoid Avoid Fish to Avoid 11 In addition, each criterion is ‘weighted’ (Table 2) in a ranking system, placing more emphasis In addition, each criterion is ‘weighted’ (Table 2) in a ranking system, placing more emphasis (and therefore numerical (and therefore numerical value) on the criterion that are in our opinion have the most value)significance on the for criterion sustainability. that are We in consider our opinion that target have stockthe most (focus significance of the assessment) for sustainability. status We consider that target stock (focusis the strongest of the assessment) current mea statussure of is sustainability the strongest and current therefore measure this criterion of sustainability has the heaviest and therefore this criterion has the heaviestweighting. weighting. The weighting The weighting multipliers multipliers are also designedare also designedto ensure to a ensure minimum a minimum total or total or combined criteria score of 0,combined and a maximum criteria score of 15. of 0, and a maximum of 15.

tableTable 2 2 Weighting Weighting of ofsusta sustainabilityinability criteria criteria

Sustainability Criterion Weighting multiplier

Stock or species status X value by 6 Management X value by 5 Capture method and ecological effects X value by 4

FarmedThe criteria against which we measure sustainability are: Unit--Feed of assessment resources – traceability, sourcing and inclusion of both marine and non-marine feed ingredients; The Unit of Assessment (UoA) for the MCS aquaculture methodology is the aquaculture production--Environmental system within Impacts a region. and Interactions – traceability, sourcing and inclusion of both marine and non-marine feed ingredients; The region may be defined at country level (e.g Vietnam) or at the regional level (e.g. Mekong Delta)Fish and health further and determined welfare by – welfarethe scope standards, and geographical including application slaughter of regulati and regionalons and disease outbreaks. management-- practices in the area. Each UoA is further defined by production method and species.--Regulations and Management – planning, strategic assessment, regulation, enforcement and third party certification standards. Limit to Farmed fish ratings The scope of the ratings for aquaculture species is limited to a species, within a certain region using a specific production method. For example we assess Atlantic salmon, farmed in Scotland, in open marine pens. We do not rate individual farms or producers; we also do not rate companies. Farm/producer level assessments can only take place by certifiers against an independent production standard and use external auditors to check compliance. Standards such as those held by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); Organic standards such as the Soil Association or other standard holders such as Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and GlobalGap. A rating is a tool that communicates the relative environmental performance of one production system against specific criteria, which in the opinion of MCS represent the key issues of environmental concern in aquaculture, compared to another. An overview of the ratings process for the UoA - species farmed within a specific region and using a method of production we rate is presented in Figure 2 Overview of farmed ratings process below. 11 12

Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

B) Farmed Unit of assessment

The Unit of Assessment (UoA) for the MCS aquaculture methodology is the aquaculture production system within a region.

The region may be defined at country level (e.g Vietnam) or at the regional level (e.g. Mekong Delta) and further determined by the scope and geographical application of regulations and management practices in the area. Each UoA is further defined by production method and species. Limit to Farmed fish ratings

The scope of the ratings for aquaculture species is limited to a species, within a certain region using a specific production method. For example we assess Atlantic salmon, farmed in Scotland, in open marine pens. We do not rate individual farms or producers; we also do not rate companies. Farm/producer level assessments can only take place by certifiers against an independent production standard and use external auditors to check compliance. Standards such Introduction to MCS Seafood Ratings as those held by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); Organic standards such as the Soil Association or other standard holders such as Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and GlobalGap.

A rating is a tool that communicates the relative environmental performance of one production system against specific criteria, which in the opinion of MCS represent the key issues of environmental concern in aquaculture, compared to another. An overview of the ratings process for the UoA - species farmed within a specific region and using a method of production we rate is presented in Figure 2 below.

Most species and production methods The overall methodology for calculating each individual generate data; a lack of data can result combined score relies on data from a range of sources, in a higher (or poorer) rating because we is a positive scoring system (the higher the score, the use the precautionary approach where, better the rating) .The process is completed for all new in the absence of information, we may species and where new industry developments/scientific

have to exercise caution and mark that advice is available for existing species. criteria data deficient.

Combined Final

Rating Data Species Score

A number of criteria are measured and assessed (see calculation process below)

The combined score corresponds to one of our coloured ratings, 1-5, (green, amber or red) and this can be seen in the table below FIGURE 2 Overview of farmed ratings process Figure 2 Overview of farmed ratings process

The criteria against which we measure sustainability are: • Feed resources – traceability, sourcing and inclusion of both marine and non-marine feed ingredients. • Environmental Impacts and Interactions – the impacts of production on: freshwater; habitats; water quality and other species both indirectly and directly by reliance on juveniles. • Fish health and welfare – welfare standards, including slaughter and regional disease outbreaks. • Regulations and Management – planning, strategic assessment, regulation, enforcement and third party certification standards.

12 The relationship between the combined criteria score and the overall rating is presented in Table 3 below.

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Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

The relationship between the combined criteria score and the overall rating is presented in Table 3 below.

table 3 Relationship between combined score and overall rating

Combined criteria score Overall rating No weighting of criteria or assessment 9 or more Dark Green Best Choice questions is used in the Best Choice aquaculture assessment Between 4 and 8 Light Green Good Choice methodology due to the diversity of Between -2 and 3 Yellow OK production systems and Think species each having Between -10 and -3 Orange Requires Improvements their unique impacts.

-11 or less Red Avoid Fish to Avoid

3.2 The decision-making process Once all the scientific advice and any other information has been collated and reviewed against MCS assessment criteria a rating is produced. A database of ratings is maintained and any changes to the ratings are compiled and forwarded to an Industry Review Group (IRG) (see Appendix 1 for the current list of core group members) for comment. Whilst this IRG is comprised of regular core members, participation is not exclusive and MCS regularly invites feedback from relevant experts on various ratings. Ratings are then reviewed against external comments and any other credible information received before finalising and publishing new ratings.

MCS is working to develop its ratings consolation process to encourage more contributions from relevant external experts (science or industry).

Introduction to MCS SeafoodIntroduction3.3 Ratings When to MCS Seafood do Ratings rating updates take place?

Wild capture rating updates take place twice a year, in summer and in winter – in response to the publication of scientific practices or certificationpracticesadvice standard for or the certification mainupdates/amendments commercial standard speciesupdates/amendments or to in reflect the North significant Eastor to Atlanticchanges reflect significantbyin the International changes in Council for the Exploration of the production. production.Sea (ICES). For an outline of the update timescale please see Table 4 and for a detailed table of the update schedule Table 4 Good Fish GuideTableplease update4 seeGood the timescalesFish Good Guide Fish update Guide timescales Update Schedule (Appendix 1).

Action Action Timescale Timescale Farmed ratings are on a 3-year scheduled full update with an annual “health check “for the key, July to September July to September ICES Summer AdviceICES Summer Advice most popular species. A rating review can also Approx. 3 months Approx. 3 months be triggered by changes in regional practices or October/Nov to FebOctober /Nov to Feb certification standard updates/amendments or to ICES Autumn AdviceICES Autumn Advice reflect significant changes in production. Approx. 4 months Approx. 4 months

table 4 Good Fish Guide update timescales How can ratingsHow change?can ratings change? MCS works hard toMCS3 ensure. 4works that How hard our toratings ensurecan reflect thatratings currentour ratings practices change? reflect and current science, practices to ensure and science, to ensure that we update themthat to we reflect update new them scientific to reflect data; new updated scientific certification data; updated standards; certification or a standards; or a change to management;changeMCS workschanges to management; hard in regulations to ensure changes andthat/ orinour changesregulations ratings in reflect the and way/or current changesthe fish practices isin caughtthe way and the science, fish is caught to ensure that we update them to or farmed. orreflect farmed. new scientific data; updated certification standards; or a change to management; changes in regulations and/or We like to keep peopleWechanges like informed to in keep the of waypeople changes the informed fish to ouris caught ratingsof changes orand farmed. tomaintain our ratings a mailing and maintainlist of a mailing list of Interested Parties. IInterestedf you would Parties. like to Ibef you added would to ourlike listto be or addedhave any to ourqueries list or regarding have any our queries regarding our ratings, email: [email protected] like, email:to keeporg ratings@mcsuk. people informedorg of changes to our ratings and maintain a mailing list of Interested Parties. If you would like to be added to our list or have any queries regarding our ratings, email: [email protected].

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MCS Wild Capture Ratings Methodology (Version 2. June 2018) Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

Appendix I Good Fish Guide Update Schedule Good fish guide update schedule

Action Timescale

June‐Mid September ICES Summer Advice Approx. 3.5 months

New ICES (and other) advice accessed June/July

Advice processed (Post Acom Industry Briefing Meeting July 1st week July) Internal discussion of any ratings changes Last Week July Ratings agreed internally Last week July Proposed changes to Good Fish Guide ratings published online at https://www.mcsuk.org/responsible‐ seafood/about‐our‐ratings and comments invited Early August https://www.mcsuk.org/responsible‐seafood/about‐our‐ ratings

External comments reviewed Early September Rating changes (if any) made and agreed internally Mid‐September Confirmation of final ratings returned to those consultees providing comment including those with relevant interest Mid ‐September inviting final comment before publication Rating changes sent to Interested parties Mid September Database changes (GFG Master) sent to IT for data cleansing Mid September Database uploaded to website and App and ratings checked Mid/late September October/November to end Feb ICES Autumn Advice Approx. 4 months New ICES (or other) advice received August to December Advice processed Ongoing from August Internal discussion of any ratings changes Ongoing as they arise Ratings agreed internally Ongoing as they arise Proposed changes to Good Fish Guide ratings published online Mid‐December at https://www.mcsuk.org/responsible‐seafood/about‐our‐ ratings and comments invited External comments reviewed From third week in January Rating changes (if any) agreed internally End Jan Fish Lists/layout compiled/finalised for Pocket Good Fish End Jan Guide and sent to printers Confirmation of final ratings returned to those consultees Early Feb providing comment including those with relevant interest inviting final comment before publication Rating changes sent to Interested parties Mid/late Feb Database changes (GFG Master) sent to IT for data cleansing 1st week in March Database uploaded to website and App and ratings checked Mid‐March Delivery of new PGFG (published annualy) Mid‐March

38 14 Marine Conservation Society Introduction to seafood ratings

Appendix II External review process

Following the release of the latest scientific advice and as part of MCS scheduled ratings updates in the Summer and Winter each year (see Appendix II), MCS consults externally on proposed changes to seafood ratings.

Interested parties with technical insight, relevant industry or scientific expertise or those with information that could contribute to the comprehensiveness and quality of the assessments, are particularly invited to input.

To receive notifications about ratings updates and consultations, please email us ([email protected]) and request to be added to our interested parties email distribution list, and follow the Good Fish Guide on Twitter @GoodFishGuideUK.

Details of ratings consultations will also be made available online at: www.mcsuk.org/responsible-seafood/about-our-ratings

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View our detailed ratings methodologies: -- Wild Capture Methodology -- Farmed Seafood Methodology If you have any questions or specific queries about MCS seafood ratings or you would like to comment on or contribute to information in the Good Fish Guide please contact MCS at:

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