Improvements to the ETP species section of the standard is a key focus of ours, and it is part of the current MSC Fishery Standard review. However, we have not received any updates on this topic for this round of the review, other than the MSC saying that they will be opening a consultation period. This article highlights several comments from the MSC on the FSR process for ETP species specifically.
“Current methods of categorizing what constitutes an ETP species has … been raised as a barrier to consistent assessment of fisheries. Stakeholders have noted inconsistencies caused by the use of varying red lists of vulnerable species in the MSC standard. These lists often vary from country to country, having different criteria and quality of data for their ratings,” MSC said. “We also want to ensure sensitive populations are consistently assigned as endangered, threatened, or protected so certified fisheries can allow these species to recover and thrive. To do this, we may streamline ETP species designation and assessment, while also ensuring requirements reflect widely accepted and adopted science and management best practices. We also want to incentivize consistent data collection on interactions and mitigation methods used by fisheries. This will help to accurately monitor impacts on ETP species.”
We are pleased to see the MSC acknowledge the inconsistencies of ETP designation. We would like to see them address these issues and amend the standard to create a clear set of requirements that does not rely so heavily on inconsistent ETP designations from country to country.
The public consultation period on the proposed changes to the standard is likely to be in early 2022, with the new standard being released in the middle to latter part of 2022.
