Meeting the Challenges to Certification, Traceability and Consumer Awareness A view from the Global South

The panel

Certification: Challenges from North to South Geoff Bolan, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Status of traceability between the Global North and South: Why the disparity? What levers to improve? Momo Kochen, Masyarakat dan Perikanan, Indonesia (MDPI) Insights from Other Commodities Jo-anne McCrea, WWF Australia.

What are the challenges?

Meeting the Challenges to Certification, Traceability and Consumer Awareness: A view from the Global South

Simon Bush Associate Professor, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

SeaWeb Seafood Summit 9-11 Feb, 2015 New Orleans

International seafood trade

Growing middle class in the global ‘fishbowl’ of Asia

From global to regional markets EU import 65% and US 91% of what is consumed. Gives leverage – but also makes these markets vulnerable.

FAO 2014

Convergence of import volumes

Certification has emerged in response to over and under regulation

Public and private information requirements are expanding throughout value chains

Producers are faced with meeting requirements with varied levels of reward

Consumers are faced with increased choice – but edited by retailers and brands

Governing sustainable seafood

Producer

Consumer

Retailer

Exporter

Asymmetrical power

relations

Who makes the grade?

Producer/harvester capabilities Cost, literacy, organisational issues

Self-selection Danger of not focusing on those with larger (potential) sustainability gains

Demonstrating data and management Reliance on public and private sources of information to show improvement and/or ‘good’ practices

Networks of support in place Reliance on intermediaries to improve – which comes with cost

0

Impr

ovem

ent

Certification threshold

Post-certification Pre-certification

88% global fisheries production

12% global fisheries production

No. of fisheries

Bush and Oosterveer (2015) 7(2), 1861-1883, Sustainability

Credibility

Accessibility Continual improvement

‘Devil’s triangle’

A careful balancing act

Developing world

fisheries?

Best performing fisheries?

Untenable?

Bush et al (2013), Marine Policy

Informational needs and challenges

? ? ?

?

Eco-certification and IUU regulation driving new and existing information demands

Increased demand on states with limited capacity

Increasing involvement of private actors – companies and NGOs

But is information also flowing back to fish producers and harvesters?

What role for traceability?

Public regimes Private networks

Hybrid arrangements Setting transparency requirements in support

of certification and IUU related market access.

Can market demand drive change?

Difference between supply of certified production and (current) market demand for sustainable aquaculture

Bush et al 2013, Science 341: 1067-68

New trends ... and challenges

National standards Lower cost, greater inclusion, a ‘national’ social contract?

Industrial coalitions Will they go for certification or claim sustainability otherwise?

Industry-led benchmarking Driving harmonisation or equivalency? What will be the consequences for national standards?

What are the key challenges?

• What differences between developed and developing economies?

• What roles do government and industry play in implementing these systems?

• What solutions can be identified to from other commodities?

• Which systems are most appropriate for supporting improved fisheries management practices?