This article discusses the efficacy of the MSCs requirements around shark finning and draws attention to some of the limitations and general lack of enforcement of their Fins Naturally Attached (FNA) requirements. Interestingly, the article states that “The MSC introduced bans on shark finning from fisheries in its programme in 2011. But despite this ban, FNA is only mandatory in the two higher tiers of the MSC’s three certification levels (SG80 and SG100).”
Our thoughts: This is surprising for us, as the MSC standard provides multiple exemptions to the FNA requirement at SG80, and there are many fisheries that have been scored SG80 for finning that don’t have a FNA in place! For some time now, we have been demanding that FNA be required as a prerequisite for certification, and therefore at SG60 (entry level), without exemptions. Tim Davies, Head of Fisheries Standard Operations for MSC, admitted that the requirements can allow for finning saying “Systematic shark finning is not allowed, but isolated incidents effectively [were], as long as they [were] backed up with proper enforcement and sanctions.”
