Review of Fish Sustainability Information Schemes Final Report Prepared for the Fish Sustainability Information Group by October 2009 Project no: ZO1141 Issue ref: Review of Fish Sustainability Information Schemes ‐ Final Report Date of issue: October 2009 Prepared by: G. Parkes, S. Walmsley, T. Cambridge, R. Trumble, S. Clarke, D. Lamberts, D. Souter, & C. White. Checked/Approved by: GP CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. VII 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Structure of the report ........................................................................................................ 2 1.2. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture ..................................................................... 2 1.3. Fish sustainability information ............................................................................................ 4 1.3.1. The rise of certification schemes and recommendation lists in fisheries and aquaculture ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3.2. Certification Schemes ........................................................................................................ 6 1.3.3. Recommendation lists........................................................................................................ 7 1.4. FAO Ecolabelling Guidelines ............................................................................................... 7 1.4.1. Marine capture fisheries .................................................................................................... 8 1.4.2. Aquaculture ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.5. Comments on relevant literature ..................................................................................... 10 2. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 12 2.1. Scoping and selection of schemes .................................................................................... 12 2.2. Framework for the collection and compilation of information ........................................ 13 2.3. Reviewing the schemes ..................................................................................................... 14 2.3.1. Desk‐based research ........................................................................................................ 14 2.3.2. Contacting organisations ................................................................................................. 14 2.3.3. Compilation of information ............................................................................................. 15 2.4. Analysis and synthesis ....................................................................................................... 15 3. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 16 3.1. Summary of schemes reviewed ........................................................................................ 16 3.2. Relationships between schemes ....................................................................................... 20 3.2.1. Timeline and history ........................................................................................................ 20 3.2.2. Equivalence and links between schemes ......................................................................... 21 3.3. Certification schemes........................................................................................................ 23 3.3.1. Organisation and participation ........................................................................................ 23 3.3.2. Minimum substantive requirements ............................................................................... 24 3.3.3. Assessing compliance with the standard ......................................................................... 32 3.3.4. Developing countries ....................................................................................................... 34 3.3.5. Data‐deficient fisheries .................................................................................................... 35 3.3.6. Budgets and funding sources .......................................................................................... 36 3.4. Recommendation lists ...................................................................................................... 37 3.4.1. Organisation and participation ........................................................................................ 37 3.4.2. Content of the recommendation lists .............................................................................. 37 3.4.3. Methodologies for compiling the lists ............................................................................. 38 3.4.4. Developing countries ....................................................................................................... 43 3.4.5. Data‐deficient fisheries .................................................................................................... 43 3.4.6. Budgets and funding sources ........................................................................................... 43 3.5. Stakeholder perspectives .................................................................................................. 44 3.5.1. Industry ............................................................................................................................ 44 3.5.2. Retailers ........................................................................................................................... 49 3.5.3. Consumers ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.6. Measuring success ............................................................................................................ 56 3.6.1. Market share .................................................................................................................... 57 3.6.2. Economic incentives ......................................................................................................... 59 3.6.3. Environmental gains ........................................................................................................ 60 i MRAG Review of Fish Sustainability Information Schemes 3.6.4. Social benefits .................................................................................................................. 61 4. CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................ 62 4.1. What makes a good fish sustainability information scheme? .......................................... 62 4.1.1. Scope ................................................................................................................................ 63 4.1.2. Accuracy ........................................................................................................................... 64 4.1.3. Independence .................................................................................................................. 66 4.1.4. Precision ........................................................................................................................... 67 4.1.5. Transparency .................................................................................................................... 68 4.1.6. Standardisation ................................................................................................................ 69 4.1.7. Cost‐effectiveness ............................................................................................................ 70 4.2. Recommendations and future challenges ........................................................................ 71 5. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 75 ANNEX 1: DETAILED REVIEW OF SELECTED FISH SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION SCHEMES ........... 77 1. CERTIFICATION SCHEMES ........................................................................................................ 78 1.1. Friend of the Sea ............................................................................................................... 78 1.1.1. Background ...................................................................................................................... 78 1.1.2. What do they claim? ........................................................................................................ 79 1.1.3. How do they do it? ........................................................................................................... 79 1.1.4. What are the results? ....................................................................................................... 87 1.1.5. Organisational costs and funding ..................................................................................... 88 1.2. Marine Ecolabel Japan ...................................................................................................... 89 1.2.1. Background .....................................................................................................................