The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC – www.msc.org) was established by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Unilever to set a mandate for promoting sustainable fishery practices throughout the world. MSC has set an internationally recognised standard for sustainable, well managed fisheries and a supply chain standard which ensures sustainably fished seafood is tracked from the sea to dinner plate.

TQCSI is the only MSC accredited,certification body in the Southern hemisphere, to provide MSC certification services nationally and throughout Asia. Through the Rural Solutions SA and TQCSI partnership, we are assisting to undertake full certification assessment of the first MSC certified Japanese Fishery. The certification process for the Japanese Kyoto Danish Seine Fishery for snow crab and flathead flounder has escalated the awareness and demand for MSC certified products in Japan, which has the potential to increase the demand for imports of MSC certified products from other countries to Japan.

Currently, there are 21 fisheries (as at 16 August 06) certified to the Fisheries Certification Standard, which includes two Australian Fisheries.

The partnership also assists us to increase our experience in delivering for national and international customers and puts us in a good position to translate this knowledge and understanding to local conditions impacting the seafood industry.

In addition to Rural Solutions SA’s service to assist companies achieve ISO14001:2004 Certification, MSC provides another option for wild-catch fisheries interested in environmental certification.

Would a similar internationally recognised certification program aimed at the aquaculture industry, provide the same or greater benefits?

Contact: Jade Davison