Problems with "certified sustainable" fisheries

Fish and other seafood are a globally insignificant food. They provide just 1% of global calories (FAOstat figures). Ocean fisheries are a decreasing share of this and high income countries with just 18% of the world's population get 63% of the fish.  The Marine Stewardship Council is a label used by greenies who don't care about individual fish and their suffering but who do care about maintaining fish species. The idea is that the MSC check on the sustainability of a fisheries. MSC charge $15,000 to $150,000 for certification and then an annual fee for auditing.

The Nature article gives examples of holes in the process. Some fisheries have been recommended by MSC assessors but nothing is known about the fish concerned or its breeding habits. This is clearly silly. In other cases MSC has certified bottom trawling fisheries. These fisheries drag heavy frames with nets along the ocean floor leaving a trail of destruction.

The Nature authors, led by Jennifer Jacquet and Daniel Pauly, call for a strengthening of the certification process and a total ban on certification of any fishmeal fishery.