Sustainable fisheries and the East Asian seas: Can the private sector play a role?

Wild harvest fisheries support millions of people in Asia, and there is a substantial trade both within and from the region to markets all over the world. As such, many fisheries are under great pressure due to the demand for seafood. Governments have a central role in terms of managing fisheries sustainably. However, this does not absolve the private sector from acting in a responsible manner. Mechanisms for encouraging responsible stewardship for fisheries by the private sector are varied. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) operates a certification and eco-labeling program for fisheries that encourages seafood consumers to actively purchase products from certified fisheries. The MSC program—taking into account the views of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other relevant bodies—was designed to address concerns amongst some economies that standards and certification may present trade barriers. This paper provides a description of how the MSC program meets WTO expectations for the operation of labeling programs. Certification generally identifies areas where improvements in fisheries management are required and puts the onus on the industry to actively make these improvements. MSC's experience to date is that certification results in demonstrable improvements to fisheries management—with the agreement of all interested parties. Due to the transport of seafood products across many boundaries, the certification and eco-labeling approach facilitates both co-operation across these boundaries and the adoption of best practices.