Assessment of MSC-certified fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic |
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Affiliation: | 1. GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany;2. Department of Economics, Kiel University, Wilhelm-Selig-Platz 1, 24118 Kiel, Germany;3. Walther Schücking Institute for International Law, Kiel University, Westring 400, 24118 Kiel, Germany;4. FishBase Information and Research Group Inc. (FIN), IRRI G.S. Khush Hall, Los Baños, Laguna PH 4031, Philippines;1. Department of Thoracic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China;2. Department of Respiratory Diseases, Shaoxing Municipal Hospital, Shaoxing, China;1. Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St., Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada;2. Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, Wageningen, 6700 KN, Netherlands;1. Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8130, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands;2. Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;1. School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK;2. Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK;3. Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, London, SW7 5BD, UK;4. Department of Geological Sciences, Integrated Science Center, State University of New York at Geneseo, One College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454, USA;5. School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, ISTB4 Room 795, 781 Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA;6. European Space Research and Technology Centre, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, Netherlands;1. Wageningen University, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands;2. Department of Economics, University of Kiel, Wilhelm-Seelig-Platz 1, 24118 Kiel, Germany;3. Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiellinie 66, 24105 Kiel, Germany |
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Abstract: | This study examines the status and exploitation level of 31 northern European stocks targeted by fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being sustainable and well managed. In the first year of certification, 11 stocks (52% of stocks with available data) were exploited above the maximum sustainable level and four stocks (16% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. MSC states that it certifies sub-standard stocks because they will improve once they are in their program. However, after a duration of certification of one to ten years (average four years), no significant changes in fishing pressure or stock size were detected. In the last certified year with available data, seven stocks (44% of stocks with available data) were subject to overfishing and five stocks (21% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. Certification should guarantee that fishing quotas are set correctly and are enforced. However, in 11 stocks quotas were set 20–60% above the level that fishers were taking, whereas in three stocks landings exceeded quotas by 30–50%. The study concludes that MSC should change its rules such that overfishing or unsafe stock sizes lead to immediate suspension of certification and that no certification is issued in the first place for a stock that is already in such a situation. |
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Keywords: | MSC-certified stocks Northeast Atlantic Overfishing Total allowable catch |
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