Newfoundland
Improving a
Newfoundland
cod fishery through a
“Fisheries Improvement Project”
Gilbert Van Ryckevorsel WWF-Canada
by Janice Ryan and Bettina Saier, WWF-Canada
Copyright Journal of Ocean Technology 2013
Seafood Innovation: Creative solutions to global challenges Vol. 8, Special Issue 9
Introduction Across the world’s fisheries, 85% have already been pushed to or beyond their exploitation limits while dependence on seafood remains high and continues to increase. Around 3.5 billion people depend on the ocean for their primary source of food. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) seeks reduction of the fishing footprint worldwide through initiatives such as encouraging fisheries to meet international sustainability standards through credible thirdparty assessment schemes, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Yet, to date, only 7% of fisheries worldwide are MSC certified or are under assessment, and only 8% have been identified as potentially certifiable in the short term. Thus, by far, the largest portion of the world’s fisheries and their management is in need of large-scale improvement. WWF supports fisheries improvement projects (FIPs) to enable fisheries to reach the sustainability standards set by the MSC. FIPs are changing the way that buyers committed to sourcing sustainable seafood engage with problematic fisheries, enabling them to incentivize improvement rather than discontinue purchasing. Background Market forces for sustainable seafood provide the positive incentives for underperforming fisheries to enter into a FIP. FIPs bring together a collaborative alliance of stakeholders (such as seafood buyers, suppliers, producers, processors, harvesters, non-governmental organizations, fishery managers, government representatives and academics). These stakeholders lobby for improvements in policy and management that will measurably improve stock health or minimize fishing impacts on the environment (such as by-catch and seabed disturbance). To date, WWF has been engaged in 54 FIPs world-wide, covering a vast array of species such as Orkney blue crab, Ecuador mahi mahi, India oil sardine, Mozambique deep-water shrimp and Newfoundland cod. Despite the geographic diversity, all WWF-supported FIPs follow a three-step process which first assesses the fishery’s current performance against the MSC standards and identifies
10 The Journal of Ocean Technology
any potential areas of concern through a MSC pre-assessment (scoping phase). Next, a work plan is developed that identifies the activities that will help the fishery address the deficiencies identified in the pre-assessment. A comprehensive FIP work plan provides sufficient direction regarding the steps that are necessary to meet MSC standards. It lists the responsibilities for each stakeholder, and provides an estimate of the cost and date for each completed activity. Finally, the practical program begins with the implementation and tracking of work plan activities. WWF assists in the implementation of work plan activities and oversees the entire FIP process to ensure deliverables are produced within the set timelines. One of the biggest challenges is securing stakeholder commitments to make investments for improvement measures outlined in the work plan budget. All stakeholders need to be made aware of the expectations at the beginning of the process so there are no surprises, the commitment is secured and work can commence without delay. WWF-Canada’s Atlantic Cod Fisheries Improvement Project Atlantic cod fisheries, once the backbone of Newfoundland’s economy, collapsed in the early 1990s due to overfishing and ecosystem changes. For over a decade, WWF-Canada has been committed to the long-term recovery of the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. By engaging their supply chain, progressive seafood retailers who partnered with WWF played an essential role in the initiation and progress of WWF-Canada’s Atlantic cod FIP in the NAFO Division 3Ps (Figure 1). Their commitment to sell only sustainable seafood exerted immense pressure for improvements on this cod fishery, which had not previously been assessed against sustainability standards. Now, there is an urgent need to reform fisheries management and procurement practices in order to ensure market access so that other fisheries can compete with in competition with 11 responsibly managed Atlantic cod fisheries that have already been MSC certified. Copyright Journal of Ocean Technology 2013
stakeholders and resources for facilitating FIP development and implementation was an obvious first step. WWFCanada successfully secured funding and, in collaboration with Icewater, mapped the relevant stakeholders. These included NGOs (including WWF-Canada); processors (Icewater, Ocean Choice International); the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) representing men and NAFO women employed in the fishing industry; the Figure 1: Map of Eastern Canada showing the NAFO divisions. The FIP fishery is located in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps in southern Newfoundland. Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA); Canada’s federal Icewater Seafoods Inc. (Icewater), a management authority, Fisheries and Oceans Newfoundland-based processing company Canada (DFO); and Memorial University of and the largest North American processor Newfoundland, among others. of Atlantic cod, supplies premium Atlantic cod from the southern Newfoundland region The second part of the scoping process involved to companies that are based primarily in production of a scoping document completed Europe, including retailers who have pledged by a third party experienced with applying to source only certified sustainable seafood. the MSC Fishery Assessment Standards. A To improve and secure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic cod in the Newfoundland pre-assessment was conducted by a MSC region, WWF-Canada partnered with Icewater. conformity-assessment body (CAB) eligible to perform fishery assessments. The CAB The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, aims to ensure reviewed the four units of the 3Ps cod fishery against the MSC certification standard and that the cod fishery in NAFO division 3Ps identified deficiencies that needed to be becomes more sustainable and will ultimately addressed. The lack of a conservation plan be managed in a manner that is consistent and rebuilding strategy, together with deficiencies with international standards, while remaining in the basic data for assessing the health of the competitive in the global marketplace. stock and fishing impacts on the environment, were highlighted as obstacles to successful Three-step FIP Process In January 2011, WWF-Canada commenced its MSC certification. WWF-Canada commissioned a fisheries expert to develop a FIP scoping first FIP in Canada for the 3Ps Atlantic cod fishery (covering the longline, gillnet, handline, document which synthesized the MSC preand trawl gear technologies), in partnership with assessment results and outlined potential strategies to improve scores for 31 MSC Icewater Seafoods Inc. using a three-step performance indicators. The scoping document process, as described below. also categorized the scores for each performance indicator as high priority (score
Newfoundland
cod fishery through a
“Fisheries Improvement Project”
Gilbert Van Ryckevorsel WWF-Canada
by Janice Ryan and Bettina Saier, WWF-Canada
Copyright Journal of Ocean Technology 2013
Seafood Innovation: Creative solutions to global challenges Vol. 8, Special Issue 9
Introduction Across the world’s fisheries, 85% have already been pushed to or beyond their exploitation limits while dependence on seafood remains high and continues to increase. Around 3.5 billion people depend on the ocean for their primary source of food. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) seeks reduction of the fishing footprint worldwide through initiatives such as encouraging fisheries to meet international sustainability standards through credible thirdparty assessment schemes, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Yet, to date, only 7% of fisheries worldwide are MSC certified or are under assessment, and only 8% have been identified as potentially certifiable in the short term. Thus, by far, the largest portion of the world’s fisheries and their management is in need of large-scale improvement. WWF supports fisheries improvement projects (FIPs) to enable fisheries to reach the sustainability standards set by the MSC. FIPs are changing the way that buyers committed to sourcing sustainable seafood engage with problematic fisheries, enabling them to incentivize improvement rather than discontinue purchasing. Background Market forces for sustainable seafood provide the positive incentives for underperforming fisheries to enter into a FIP. FIPs bring together a collaborative alliance of stakeholders (such as seafood buyers, suppliers, producers, processors, harvesters, non-governmental organizations, fishery managers, government representatives and academics). These stakeholders lobby for improvements in policy and management that will measurably improve stock health or minimize fishing impacts on the environment (such as by-catch and seabed disturbance). To date, WWF has been engaged in 54 FIPs world-wide, covering a vast array of species such as Orkney blue crab, Ecuador mahi mahi, India oil sardine, Mozambique deep-water shrimp and Newfoundland cod. Despite the geographic diversity, all WWF-supported FIPs follow a three-step process which first assesses the fishery’s current performance against the MSC standards and identifies
10 The Journal of Ocean Technology
any potential areas of concern through a MSC pre-assessment (scoping phase). Next, a work plan is developed that identifies the activities that will help the fishery address the deficiencies identified in the pre-assessment. A comprehensive FIP work plan provides sufficient direction regarding the steps that are necessary to meet MSC standards. It lists the responsibilities for each stakeholder, and provides an estimate of the cost and date for each completed activity. Finally, the practical program begins with the implementation and tracking of work plan activities. WWF assists in the implementation of work plan activities and oversees the entire FIP process to ensure deliverables are produced within the set timelines. One of the biggest challenges is securing stakeholder commitments to make investments for improvement measures outlined in the work plan budget. All stakeholders need to be made aware of the expectations at the beginning of the process so there are no surprises, the commitment is secured and work can commence without delay. WWF-Canada’s Atlantic Cod Fisheries Improvement Project Atlantic cod fisheries, once the backbone of Newfoundland’s economy, collapsed in the early 1990s due to overfishing and ecosystem changes. For over a decade, WWF-Canada has been committed to the long-term recovery of the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. By engaging their supply chain, progressive seafood retailers who partnered with WWF played an essential role in the initiation and progress of WWF-Canada’s Atlantic cod FIP in the NAFO Division 3Ps (Figure 1). Their commitment to sell only sustainable seafood exerted immense pressure for improvements on this cod fishery, which had not previously been assessed against sustainability standards. Now, there is an urgent need to reform fisheries management and procurement practices in order to ensure market access so that other fisheries can compete with in competition with 11 responsibly managed Atlantic cod fisheries that have already been MSC certified. Copyright Journal of Ocean Technology 2013
stakeholders and resources for facilitating FIP development and implementation was an obvious first step. WWFCanada successfully secured funding and, in collaboration with Icewater, mapped the relevant stakeholders. These included NGOs (including WWF-Canada); processors (Icewater, Ocean Choice International); the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) representing men and NAFO women employed in the fishing industry; the Figure 1: Map of Eastern Canada showing the NAFO divisions. The FIP fishery is located in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps in southern Newfoundland. Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA); Canada’s federal Icewater Seafoods Inc. (Icewater), a management authority, Fisheries and Oceans Newfoundland-based processing company Canada (DFO); and Memorial University of and the largest North American processor Newfoundland, among others. of Atlantic cod, supplies premium Atlantic cod from the southern Newfoundland region The second part of the scoping process involved to companies that are based primarily in production of a scoping document completed Europe, including retailers who have pledged by a third party experienced with applying to source only certified sustainable seafood. the MSC Fishery Assessment Standards. A To improve and secure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic cod in the Newfoundland pre-assessment was conducted by a MSC region, WWF-Canada partnered with Icewater. conformity-assessment body (CAB) eligible to perform fishery assessments. The CAB The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, aims to ensure reviewed the four units of the 3Ps cod fishery against the MSC certification standard and that the cod fishery in NAFO division 3Ps identified deficiencies that needed to be becomes more sustainable and will ultimately addressed. The lack of a conservation plan be managed in a manner that is consistent and rebuilding strategy, together with deficiencies with international standards, while remaining in the basic data for assessing the health of the competitive in the global marketplace. stock and fishing impacts on the environment, were highlighted as obstacles to successful Three-step FIP Process In January 2011, WWF-Canada commenced its MSC certification. WWF-Canada commissioned a fisheries expert to develop a FIP scoping first FIP in Canada for the 3Ps Atlantic cod fishery (covering the longline, gillnet, handline, document which synthesized the MSC preand trawl gear technologies), in partnership with assessment results and outlined potential strategies to improve scores for 31 MSC Icewater Seafoods Inc. using a three-step performance indicators. The scoping document process, as described below. also categorized the scores for each performance indicator as high priority (score
