Global Appetite for Sustainable Seafood Remains High, as More Fisheries Engage with MSC Program – Perishable News

Report on the Marine Stewardship Council’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Advancing SDG 14 through Sustainable Fisheries

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification program is demonstrating significant growth, making a direct contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The program’s expansion reflects a global commitment to ending overfishing and ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems, which are central tenets of the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

• Fishery engagement has increased to 738, a rise of 22 from the previous year.
• Participating fisheries now represent 20.6% of the global wild marine catch.
• The program’s growth is propelled by increasing demand from consumers and supply chains for seafood that meets independently validated sustainability criteria.

Progress Towards SDG 14: Life Below Water

The MSC program provides a critical framework for fisheries to meet key targets under SDG 14 by promoting the sustainable management of marine resources and ecosystems.

1. Ending Overfishing (Target 14.4): The program’s strict environmental criteria for maintaining healthy fish stocks, minimizing ecosystem impact, and promoting effective management are central to achieving this target. Fisheries engaged with the MSC now account for 80% of the world’s whitefish catch and 60% of the wild salmon catch.
2. Protecting Marine Ecosystems (Target 14.2): By certifying fisheries that minimize harmful impacts, the MSC program supports the protection of ocean biodiversity. This contribution is officially recognized by the United Nations as integral to delivering the global target of ending overfishing.
3. Case Study – Tuna Fisheries: Significant progress has been made in the tuna sector, with 203 fisheries now engaged in the program. Key milestones that support the long-term health of tuna stocks include the successful implementation of rigorous harvest strategies by the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) skipjack fishery and the North Pacific albacore fishery.

Fostering SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The growth in the MSC program is both driven by and contributes to the principles of SDG 12, which promotes sustainable production patterns and empowers consumers to make responsible choices.

• Market Growth and Consumer Awareness: Retail sales of MSC-labelled seafood increased by 8%, reaching a total value of US$14 billion. This trend indicates rising consumer demand for sustainably sourced products and provides consumers with the ability to choose options that protect marine life, aligning with Target 12.8.
• Supply Chain Engagement: The increase in certified products, including a 30% rise in MSC-labelled tuna sales to 300,000 tonnes, demonstrates a growing commitment from the global supply chain to sustainable practices and resource management as outlined in Target 12.2.

Strengthening SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success and expansion of the MSC program rely on multi-stakeholder collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17, to create an enabling environment for sustainable ocean management.

• Collaborative Action: Progress requires concerted action from the fishing industry, fishery management agencies, governments, and consumers to ensure global fisheries are managed sustainably.
• Financial Support for Innovation: The MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) exemplifies partnership in action. In 2024-25, the OSF awarded over $2.2 million in grants to support fisheries on their pathway to sustainability and to fund research and innovation, contributing to SDG Target 14.a (Increase scientific knowledge).

Conclusion: Accelerating Progress for the 2030 Agenda

The continued expansion of the MSC program highlights a positive global trend towards sustainable marine resource management. As noted by MSC Chief Executive Rupert Howes, accelerated efforts are required from all stakeholders to address the impacts of climate change on oceans and achieve the UN’s 2030 Goals. Sustainable fisheries are fundamental to a resilient and healthy ocean capable of providing nutritious, low-carbon protein for future generations, thereby supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) in conjunction with SDG 14.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • The entire article is centered on this goal, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) program directly contributes by setting criteria to “ensure healthy fish stocks, minimize harmful impacts on the ocean, and promote effective management.” The article explicitly mentions that “sustainable fisheries are seen as a cornerstone of delivering the UN global target of ending overfishing” and contribute to “ocean biodiversity.”

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The article highlights the role of consumers and supply chains in driving sustainability. It notes the “rising global consumer and supply chain demand for sustainable seafood” and the growth in sales of MSC-labelled products, which “gives consumers the ability to choose options which help protect the ocean.” The MSC eco-label is a tool to promote sustainable consumption patterns, a key aspect of SDG 12.

3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article connects sustainable fisheries to global food security by describing the ocean as a provider of a “precious and renewable source of low carbon nutritious protein for humanity for generations to come.” Ensuring the long-term health and productivity of fisheries is essential for achieving food security and improved nutrition, which are central to SDG 2.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The success of the MSC program is presented as a collaborative effort. The report’s title, “Working Together for Sustainable Seafood,” and the call for action from “the fishing industry, fishery management agencies, consumers and our political leaders and governments” emphasize the multi-stakeholder partnerships required. The Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) also represents a partnership model, providing grants to support fisheries in their sustainability journey.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 14.4: End overfishing and restore fish stocks

   • This target aims to “effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks.” The article directly addresses this by stating that the UN sees sustainable fisheries as a “cornerstone of delivering the UN global target of ending overfishing.” The implementation of “rigorous harvest strategies” by tuna fisheries is a specific example of action towards this target.

2. Target 14.2: Protect and restore marine ecosystems

   • This target focuses on sustainably managing and protecting marine ecosystems to avoid adverse impacts. The MSC program’s criteria to “minimize harmful impacts on the ocean” and its contribution to “ocean biodiversity” directly align with this target. The overall goal is to achieve a “resilient, healthy and productive ocean.”

3. Target 12.8: Promote awareness for sustainable lifestyles

   • This target aims to ensure people have the information and awareness for sustainable development. The MSC’s eco-labelling program is a direct mechanism for this. The article states that the “growing number of sustainable seafood products gives consumers the ability to choose options which help protect the ocean,” demonstrating how the program empowers consumers to make informed choices that support sustainability.

4. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems

   • This target calls for sustainable food production systems that help maintain ecosystems. The article’s focus on “sustainable harvesting practices” and ensuring the ocean can “continue to provide a precious and renewable source of… protein for humanity for generations to come” directly relates to creating resilient and sustainable food sources from the ocean.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Proportion of global catch from certified sustainable sources

   • The article provides specific data points that act as indicators of progress. It states that fisheries engaged in the MSC program “represent a fifth (20.6%) of the global wild marine catch.” It also gives breakdowns, such as “80% of the world’s whitefish catch and 60% of the wild salmon catch,” which measure the market penetration of sustainable practices.

2. Number of fisheries committed to sustainable practices

   • Progress can be measured by the number of fisheries adopting sustainable standards. The article explicitly states there are “738 fisheries” engaged in the MSC program, which is “an increase of 22 on the previous year.” This quantifies the growing commitment to sustainability within the industry.

3. Market value and volume of sustainable products

   • To measure the success of responsible consumption (Target 12.8), the article provides market data. It notes an “8% increase in MSC-labelled seafood sold, reaching a total retail value of US$14 billion” and “300,000 tonnes of MSC-labelled tuna sold – a 30% increase from the previous year.” These figures serve as direct indicators of consumer and supply chain engagement.

4. Financial investment in sustainability initiatives

   • The article mentions that the “MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) awarded over $2.2 million in grants in 2024-25.” This amount serves as an indicator of the financial resources being mobilized to support fisheries on their “pathway to sustainability and fund research and innovation,” which is relevant to SDG 17 (Partnerships).

5. Implementation of science-based management plans

   • While not a single number, the article implies this indicator by highlighting that the “Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) skipjack fishery… and the North Pacific albacore fishery successfully implemented rigorous harvest strategies.” The adoption of such strategies is a key measure of progress towards Target 14.4.

Source: perishablenews.com