The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has unveiled important changes in the law for fisheries and the fish supply chain based on a wider review of the seafood certification system.

Reports of labour abuses in the global seafood industry compelled the MSC to introduce the stricter measures, which will come into effect in 2019. Under existing regulations, any companies successfully prosecuted for labour violations in the past two years are ineligible for the council’s programme membership. The updated rules, however, will make MSC certification for high-risk companies conditional on a successful audit against forced and child labour provision. This is to ensure each successful fishery retains its status and all conditions are met.

From August 2018, the MSC will also require certification for all fishing activities on a target stock on a single trip. It has pledged to explore possible issues regarding its own third-party assurance system and due diligence processes in order to ensure impartiality and improve assessments of fisheries.

Third party assurance is defined on the MSC website as: “An independent assessment [to] show that the organisation, product or service meets standards that have been established by impartial experts, often in consultation with stakeholders. A certificate is issued to prove that the standard has been met.”

Assurance partner Accreditation Services International (ASI) will analyse the undertaking of the stricter conditions and make recommendations for changes in MSC’s system.

Under the third party system, assessments are performed by conformity assessment bodies (CABs). To ensure complete independence, ASI manages the accreditation of CABs.

In August 2017, the council set up a Peer Review College, which is comprised of around 50 experts in marine science and fisheries management. These experts ensure that fishery assessments undertaken by certification companies such as ASI are sufficiently meticulous. The MSC will consider increasing the number of peer reviewers to resolve issues of scientific ambiguity.

Independent conservation organisation WWF International has pressured the council to address long-standing concerns and improve the certification system.

“We are pleased that the MSC Board has clearly recognised the need for continuing improvement, and has made some initial commitments towards that end. Whilst encouraged by the MSC’s willingness to address conservation concerns, WWF does expect to see strong, more specific and more immediate commitments,” said WWF oceans leader John Tanzer.

“WWF believes the standard should safeguard endangered, threatened and protected species, and important habitats, and that it should be in accord with the objectives of marine protected areas.”

Tanzer also commented that the WWF will continue to strengthen the standard and assurance process, in conjunction with the MSC, to improve fishing industry practices during a time of unprecedented challenges.