FISH, CERTIFICATION AND MOODY INTERNATIONAL 

Fish production presents a number of serious challenges to the sustainable management of the world’s oceans. Over-fishing has led to the closure of some of the world’s largest fisheries and threatens many others. This is of obvious concern to the public, and to many within the seafood industry. In particular, many retailers such as Wal-Mart in the USA and Sainsburys in the UK have committed to only buying fish from certified sources.

Industry certification is seen as a significant means of combating the adverse effects of fish capture by identifying those fisheries which meet appropriate environmental standards. This allows buyers to meet Corporate Social Responsibility targets and harnesses consumer power to provide market incentives to improve environmental performance. Since 1999, Moody International Certification has been involved in the certification of sustainable fish production operations through its Moody Marine division.

The most significant fishery certification program at the moment is the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Moody Marine is fully accredited by the MSC to certify fisheries and the “chain of custody” of fish, from the producer to the final consumer. At present, Moody is the world leading certifier of fisheries.

In 2001, total global imports of fish products were US$59.4 billion in value, representing about 38% of total fish production. The main importers are Japan, the USA, and the EU. The most valuable trade items are shrimp, whitefish (cod, hake, pollock etc), tuna and salmon. Moody Marine has certified, or is currently assessing, fisheries supplying each of these trade items – Canadian shrimp, Alaskan and Norwegian cod, South African hake, Alaskan pollock, US albacore tuna and Alaskan salmon.

MSC fishery certification covers the entire management process of a fishery, from government to fishermen. It is generally a 12 month process involving extensive stakeholder consultation, the appointment of several specialist advisors and the production of detailed reports which are then subject to scientific and public scrutiny. Clients for MSC certification may be fishing associations, governments, fish processors/wholesalers or NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations).

MSC “chain of custody” certification provides assurance of traceability of fish carrying the MSC logo back to the certified fishery. This certification applies to each company handling fish, from the point of capture to final sale. Moody Marine have clients in restaurant, retail, processing, wholesale and food service sectors.

Moody Marine also provides certification of individual vessels to the Responsible Fishing Scheme standard. This program differs from MSC as it is related to the fishing practices of the vessel, rather than the sustainability of the fishery, which is assessed. Around 300 vessels are currently involved in this program.

For further information, please contact Dr Andrew Hough, Moody Marine Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1633 401092
E-mail: a.hough@moodyint.com

Moody Marine Fishery Assessment Team Pictured Left to Right:  Ian Scott; Jason Combes; Paul Knapman (Manager North America); Andrew Hough (Fishery Assessment Manager); Jim Andrews