shark finning letter April 5th 2019 final · The MSC’s policy on shark finning is very clear in...
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Page 1 of 14 To Mr. Rupert Howes, Chief Executive Dr. Werner Kiene, Chair of the Board Marine Stewardship Council Marine House 1 Snow Hill London EC1A 2DHDATE OPEN LETTER April 5 th , 2019 Dear Dr. Kiene, Dear Mr. Howes, Dear MSC Trustees, This is an open letter calling the MSC for action and we respectfully ask you to share this letter with all of your board members and the StAC.
Transcript of shark finning letter April 5th 2019 final · The MSC’s policy on shark finning is very clear in...
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ToMr.RupertHowes,ChiefExecutiveDr.WernerKiene,ChairoftheBoardMarineStewardshipCouncilMarineHouse1SnowHillLondonEC1A2DHDATE
OPENLETTER April5th,2019
DearDr.Kiene,DearMr.Howes,DearMSCTrustees,
ThisisanopenlettercallingtheMSCforactionandwerespectfullyaskyoutosharethisletterwithallofyourboardmembersandtheStAC.
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Thankyouforyourletterdated26October2018.AsProf.Dr.MichelKaiser,whowrotethisletter,isnolongerwiththeMSC,weareaddressingourresponsetoyouinstead.
Pleaseexcusethatthisresponsetooklongerthanexpected,butwewerehopingtoseesomeproactiveandconstructiveprogressfromMSCtoresolvethisterribleissue.Unfortunatelynothinghashappenedsofarotherthanthestartofapublicconsultationonsharkfinningofwhichtheproposedoptionshaveunfortunatelynotbeensharedwiththesignatoriesofthisletterupfront,sothatwecouldhaveprovidedourexpert&stakeholderinputforthedescriptionoftheseproposals.
Wehavehoweversharedanddiscussedyourresponsewiththesignatoriesoftheletterfromlastyearandwouldliketosharetheoutcomeofthesediscussionswithyoutoday.Inadditionwealsohopetodrawyourattentiontosomefurtherresearchwehavedoneinthemeantime,whichshows,thattheissueofsharkfinningisbyfarnotlimitedtothePNAfishery,whichwehadusedasanexampleinourpreviousletter.
1. ExecutiveSummary
TheMSCclaimstobecommittedtoensuringthatsharkfinningdoesnottakeplaceinanyfisheriesthatarecertifiedassustainable,viaaclear,easilyappliedpolicy.However,evidenceshowsthattheCABsarefailingtoproperlyapplytheMSCstandardasregardssharkfinning.Inordertorectifythissituation,theMSCcertificationshouldberevisedtorequirethata“finsnaturallyattached”policybeinplaceandcompliedwithinorderforafisherytoreceiveascoreofSG60.ItisalsoimperativethatMSCrequirestheCABstoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple.CABshaverepeatedlymadedeterminationsonthelikelihoodoftheexistenceoffinningdespitenotingalackofdataavailability.Iffinning,bycatch,andcompliancedataareunavailableorinsufficient,CABsshouldbeprohibitedfromcertifyingthefisherywithrespecttosharkfinning.Finally,MSCmustensurethattheCABsarecorrectlyapplyingMSCsharkfinningscorestandards.Innumerouscertifiedfisheriesoverthepastdecade,CABshavedeterminedthatitis‘unlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace’despiteevidenceoffinningandnoevidenceofsanctionsbeingimposedrelatedtosuchfinning.CABsshouldonlybepermittedtocertifyafisheryifthedataconclusivelyshowtheresultneeded(i.e.SG60ifthedataconclusivelyshowthatitisunlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace).
2. YourResponsetoourLetter
Weappreciateyourresponsetoourletter,howeverwewouldliketocorrectsomefactualmisperceptionandincompletefactsthatwerepresented.
2.1. Reducingtheincidenceofsharkfinning
WenoticethatyourresponsereferringtothenewspaperreportsandsimilartotheevidencesubmittedbyMrHowes/theMSCfollowingtheEAChearingiswhollyinadequateforthefollowingreasons:
§ Thereareonly4/5incidentsreportedintotal.§ ThreeoftheincidentsreportedarefromJuly2012.TheMSCbandidnotcomeintoeffectuntil
2013.Ofthethreereported,onlytwosanctionswereimposedandonecasewasstillongoing.§ Thetwonewsreportsfrom2013relatetolong-liners,whicharenotpartoftheMSCcertified
fishery.§ Thenewsreportsfrom2012statethatthesanctionappliedwasafine.WhilsttheMarshall
IslandsFisherieslawprovidesafinelevelthatcanbeappliedfrom$25,000to$200,000plusanamountequivalenttothevalueofsharkfinsconfiscated,thetwovesselsreportedlyfinedhad
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beenfinedmerely$55,000.Therefore,notonlywasthefineatthebottomendofthescalebuttheleveloffineisadropintheoceanformostfisheries.
§ Onlyonereporttalksofaban,andthat,asaforesaidrelatedtoalong-linervesselthatisnotpartofthecertifiedfishery.
§ AllofthereportsrelatetosanctionsreportedtohavebeenimposedintheMarshallIslands,yetthePNAisformedof8countries.
§ TheMSChasbeenunabletoprovideanyevidencethatavesselinthePNAFAD-FreefisheryhasbeenappropriatelysanctionedsincetheimpositionoftheMSCban.Indeed,noevidenceofanysanctionsbeingimposedintheperiodfromApril10,2013tothedateofsubmissionhasbeenprovided,aperiodofover5andahalfyears,or,5yearsifyoutakethedateoftherecertificationofthePNA.
Therefore:
§ 429incidentsoffinninginthePNAbetween2012-2015.§ 5newspaperreports.§ 3frombeforetheMSCbanhadcomeintoeffect.§ 2relatingtoirrelevantlong-liners.§ 426casesforwhichtheMSChasnotprovidedanyevidence,thatvesselshavebeen
appropriatelysanctionedinthePNAintheperiod2012-2015.Thatis99.3%ofcases.
YourreferencetothedownwardtrendoffinninginWCPFCtechnicalandcompliancecommitteereportWCPFC-TCC14-2018-RP02with1019,332,130and22reportedincidencesbetween2014and2017showsindeedaverymuchappreciatedoveralldeclineoffinningintheregion.Whileweagreethat“themeasuresinCMM2013-08[have]beenthecatalyst”forthisencouragingdecline,thosenumbersshouldstillbeevaluatedwithcaution,especiallythefigurefor2017,asthisfigure“onlyrepresentsapprox.50%ofdatacollectedin2017”.FurthermoreitshouldbenotedthatWCPFC-TCC13-2017-RP02actuallyhadreportedonly994,190,and97casesoffinningfor2014,2015,and2016,whichobviouslyhadtobecorrectedtohighervaluesinthe2018reportfortheyears2014and2015,asmoredatahadbecomeavailable.
WehavealsonoticedthatthesurveillanceauditofthePNAfisheryhasbeenscheduledfortheweekcommencing1stApril2019,andinlightofourconcernsaboutongoingsharkfinningandthelackofprosecutionsinthisfishery,wewillbekeepingacloseeyeonproceedingsfromthissurveillanceaudit.
2.2. LackofTransparency
WewereverydisappointedtobeingreferredbacktotheCABforactualevidenceofotherprosecutionsandtheoutcomeofthese,whenthesameCABhadalreadyfailedtoprovidesuchevidenceduringtheassessmentandobjectionprocess.AsastandardsettertheMSCitselfshouldproactivelyinvestigateandupholditsstandardwhenbeingmadeawareofsuchenormousdiscrepanciesbetweenthereportedandprosecutedcasesofviolationsofthebaninacertifiedfishery.
2.3. MovingForward
YoursuggestionthatMSCmightpossiblyconsiderchangesintheupcomingstandardreviewasto“anyvesselprosecutedforsuch[sharkfinning]wouldbeexcludedfromtheunitofcertification“clearlyfallsshortofstrengtheningtheenforcementofthecurrentfinningbaninlightoftheseshortcomingsinactualprosecutionstohappen.
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Therefore,weremaindeeplyconcernedthatwhiletheMSCcontinuestoinformthepublicthattheabhorrentpracticeofsharkfinningisbanned,itcontinuestotakeplaceincertifiedfisheriesand,inviewofyourannouncementoftheupcomingpublicconsultationonsharkfinning,wewishtosummariseanumberofoutstandingissuesforyoururgentconsideration.
§ Asaminimumwewouldhaveexpectedtoseea“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”tobeimplementedasamandatoryrequirementforallfisheriesinteractingwithsharks.While“finsnaturallyattached”arealreadymandatoryinEUsince2013andothercountries,theWCPFC,initsWCPFC-TCC14-2018-22,5thDraft,2018,proposestoimplementthepolicyinorder“toevaluateandassesscompliance,asithasnotbeenabletoassesscompliancewiththe5%finstocarcassratiocurrentlyincludedinCMM2010-07”.
§ MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognises“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChasnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60or“likely“toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.
§ Theintroductionofa“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”forlandingsofsharksandsharkproductswasalsorequestedinourOctober2018letterandhasbeenproposedbyotherstakeholders,too.Itstatesthegloballyrecognisedbestpracticetoverifyandensurefinningisnottakingplace.
§ Thisshouldhavebeenconsideredasaproposalforthecurrentconsultation.
3. FurtherResearchUndertaken
Thepolicy
TheMSC’spolicyonsharkfinningisveryclearinstating,that“…theCABshouldnotcertifyormaintainthecertificationofafisherywhenthereisobjectiveverifiableevidencethatindicatessharkfinningistakingplace.”CABsassessingfisheriesmustawardascoreofSG60whereitislikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace,SG80whereitishighlylikelynottakingplace,andSG100wherethereisahighdegreeofcertaintyfinningisnottakingplace.WheretheCABknowsfinningistakingplace,thefisherymustreceiveafailscoreonthisindicator.
Thepolicyinpractice
Despitetheclarityofthispolicy,itsapplicationhasbeensubjecttointerpretation,notablyfromtheMSC‘InterpretationLog’.
Forexample,thisLogstatesthat“Ifonlyoneortwocaseshavebeenreported,forexample,andthevessel/sinvolvedhavebeenappropriatelysanctioned,thentheteammaystillconcludethatitislikelyorhighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceinanysignificantway”.Thisinterpretationisnotconsistentwiththepracticebeingbanned.
SharkfinninginMSC-certifiedtunafisheries
EvenmoreconcerningisthatthereappearstobeamuchwidertoleranceofsharkfinningtohappeninMSCcertifiedfisheriesbeyondtheexampleofthePNAfishery.Sofarwehavereviewedthisfisheryasthemostprominentexample,however,afteramoreintensivereviewofothercertificationreportsthisappearstobefarfrombeingaoneoffincidence.
Wehavereviewedtheassessmentreportsforanumberofcertifiedtunafisheriesandconsideredwhetherthisinterpretationisbeingappliedinthewayconsumerswouldreasonablyexpect–pleaseseetablebelow.
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Wenotethatthisreviewhasn’tevenincludedanyfisheriesthatdirectlytargetsharksoranyotherfisheriesoutsidetuna,someofthesefisherieshaveevenlargerbycatchofsharks,suchase.g.long-linerstargetingswordfish.
Havingdoneso,wehavethreeconcerns:
1. ThepracticalapplicationofMSC’spolicyonsharkfinninginpractice;2. Theapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproachtotheassessmentoffisherieswheresharkfinning
istakingplace;3. Thelackofconsistencyandtheimpactonconsumers.
Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
PNAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfin
§ Certifiedsince2011§ Re-certifiedin2018
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/pna-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-unassociated-non-fad-set-tuna-purse-seine/@@assessments
§ Atleast429instancesofsharkfinningduringperiodconsideredbytheCAB(2012-2015).
§ EvidencerecentlysubmittedbyMSCtoUKParliament’sEnvironmentalAuditCommitteedidnotdemonstratethatthevessel/sinvolvedhadbeenappropriatelysanctioned.Evidencesharedcoveredjust4/5incidents,ofwhich3pre-datethebancomingintoeffectand2relatetolong-linersnotpartoftheMSCfishery.
§ Despite429incidencesoffinningandanabsenceofappropriatesanctions,ascoreof80wasassignedonthisSIandthePNArecertifiedin2018.
§ NomorerecentdatahavebeenprovidedalthoughobserverdatafromtheRFMOhavebeenpublished…
Tri-MarineWesternandCentralPacificSkipjackandYellowfinTunafishery
§ Certifiedsince2016
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/tri-marine-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-tuna/@@assessments
§ Acknowledgedinassessmentreportthat21instancesofsharkfinningoccurred2010-2013.
§ TheCABSCSnotedthatfinningwasa“rareevent”butalsoacknowledgedconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC102014)“aboutthelevelofreporting,theambiguityofthefin-to-carcassratiomethodformonitoringcompliance,thesubsequentinabilityoftheWCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasure,andthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnon-compliance.TherequirementsoftheSG80levelarethereforenotconsideredtobemet”.
§ DespiteSCCnoting“thereisnotyetevidencethattherareexamples[ofsharkfinning]arefollowedbyappropriatesanctions…”,theyscoredtherelevantSIat75.
§ Aconditionwasplacedrequestingthat‘bythefourthsurveillanceauditdemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceorthat,ifrarecasesarereported,thatmeasuresaretakentoaddresstheissue.”
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Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
WPSTAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfinfreeschoolpurseseine
§ Certifiedin2018
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/wpsta-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-free-school-purse-seine/@@assessments
§ SCSconfirmedfortheChineseUoCthatthey“werenotprovidedwithdatafromtheobserverdatabasesonthenumberofsharkfinningeventsrecordedfortherelevantvessels…ourscoresinsteadreflectthelowlevelsofsharkfinningthathavebeenrecordedonotherWPFCpurseseinevessels.”
§ Regardingsanctions,SCSnoted“OurassessmentalsoreflectsthegeneralconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC2014)about…thesubsequentinabilityoftheSCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasureandthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnoncompliance.”
§ Despitethisacceptancethattherewere“lowlevelsoffinning”,andalackofanyclearsanctionsimposed,itwasstillscoredat75.
§ TheCABwassatisfiedbyplacingconditionsthatforChina/ChineseTaipeibythethird/secondsurveillanceauditthefisheryhasto“provideevidencethatissufficienttodemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace”
TheNorth-EasternTropicalPurseSeineyellowfinandskipjacktunafishery
§ Certifiedin2017
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/northeastern-tropical-pacific-purse-seine-yellowfin-and-skipjack-tuna-fishery/@@assessments
§ TheCABconfirmedsharkfinningwastakingplace–thenumberofinstanceswassmall.
§ Regardingsanctions,theCABstatedthatCONAPESCAprovidedevidenceofacaseofsharkfinningbyavesselandthevesselwasfoundguilty.
§ However,thatvesselwasnotfromtheUoAanditwasstatedthecasewassubjecttoappealandongoing(CONAPESCA,2015b).
§ “TherearenorecentdatafromtheComplianceCommittee,however,onthelevelofcompliancewithC-05-03andnoinformationthroughtheIRPonsanctionsforanynon-compliance.Wethereforedonotconsiderittobehighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”TheCABrecordedascoreof70.
§ TheCABplacedaconditionforSilkysharksandoceanicwhitetips,requestingthat“bythefourthannualsurveillance,provideevidencethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”
SZLCCSFC&FZLCFSMEEZLonglineYellowfinandBigeyeTuna
§ Certifiedin2019
§ TheUoAispredominantlymadeupbyChineseandTaiwanesevessels
§ Withonly57trainedobserversavailableforboththelong-lineandpurseseinefleet)noobservershavebeenplacedonnon-FSMflaggedlong-lineboatsinrecentyears.Forthisassessment,NORMAprovidedobserverdatafor2015and2016,correspondingto3and6tripsforthoseyearsrespectively.
§ “AtnationalFSMlevel,allelasmobranchs(sharksandrays)are
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Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/szlc-csfc-fzlc-fsm-eez-longline-yellowfin-and-bigeye-tuna/@@assessments
protectedunderSection913ofitsFSMCodeTitle24.Theregulationdoesnotbanthelandingofsharks,butstipulatesthatallsharkscaughtalivemustbereleasedandthatanysharkdeaduponhaulingmaybelandedwithitsfinsnaturallyattached.Atstatelevel(Chuuk,Pohnpei,KosraeandYaap),sharksanctuariesareinplaceandsharksareonlyallowedtobetargetedfortraditionaluse”.However,thisdoesnotaffecttheUoAasthisfisherytakesplaceoutsidethe24nmlimit!
§ “Sincetheregulationswereadoptedin2015,NORMAreportsagoodlevelofcompliancebyalllong-linefleets,includingtheUoA.Oneside-effect,however,hasbeenthatsharksthatwerepreviouslyretainedandthereforereportedinlogbookdata,arenowmorefrequentlycutoffatthelinewhichhaslikelyresultedinunder-reporting”.
§ “Thismeansthattheobserverdataarenowtheonlyreliablesourceoninteractionswithsharksinthisfishery.Whiletheteamagreedthattheavailableobserverdataprovidessomeobjectivebasisforconfidencethatthestrategywillwork(SG80ismet),theevidencebasewaslackingtoprovidehighconfidence.SG100isnotmet”.
§ Dataavailability:“Forthisassessment,logbookdatafor2015and2016wereobtainedfortheentireUoA,assummarisedinTable10.Thereasonwhyonlytwoyears’dataarepresentedinthereportisrelatedtotheimplementationofthesharkregulationsatthestartof2015.Inadditiontoabanonsharkfinning,long-linevesselswerenolongerpermittedtotargetorlandsharksasaresultoftheseregulations.Onlysharksthatweredeaduponhaulingarenowpermittedtobelanded,withfinsnaturallyattached.”
§ “Theteamthereforedeterminedthatlogbookandobserverdatapriorto2015werenotrepresentativeofthecurrentUoA”.
§ Sharkfinningwasconsideredas“notrelevantasthetargetspeciesisnotashark”and“sharksareallprotectedinFSMandarethereforeconsideredunderETPspecies“
§ Thereforenotscoringisavailableandnoconditionhasbeenplacedonsharkfinningdespitethelowobserverlevel(andliterallynoobserversontheChineseandTaiwanesevessels!
Inourview,eachoftheabovefisheriesfailed/failstomeettherequiredcompliancewiththestandard.
Failuretoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple
TheMSC,followingtheFAOInternationalCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheries(1995)andtheUNFishStocksAgreement(1995),statesitsintentionfortheprecautionaryapproachtobeappliedthroughcertificationrequirements.
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Again,whilethispolicyisclear,itsapplicationwithregardstosharkfinninginthefisheriesashighlightedaboveisanythingbut.
§ Forexample,aunitbeingscoredat75despitenodatabeingprovidedonthenumberofsharkfinningevents,andalackofclearsanctionsonthefewreportedcasesofnon-compliance,doesnotappeartobeanevidentapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproach.
§ Anditalsoappearsincompatiblewithanprecautionaryapproach,thatafisheryoperatingwithTaiwaneseandChinesevesselsgetscertifiedsettingonlyaconditionthatthefisheryhastodemonstratewithinatimeframeof2-3yearsthatsharkfinningismostlikelynothappening.AlthoughthereispublicknowledgeasrecentlypublishedbyEJFhttps://ejfoundation.org/search/results?searchbar=shark+finning,thatespeciallyTaiwanesevesselsarestilloftenengaginginsharkfinning,andthatneitherChinanorTaiwanarestrictlyenforcingthebanonsharkfinning.
§ Orsharkfinningisnotscoredatallwithreferenceto“sharkfinningisbannedandsharksmustnotberetained”,asthesolejustificationfornotscoring.YetatthesametimetheCABacknowledgesthatonlylittleobserverdataandliterallynoobserverforthepredominantlyChineseorTaiwanesevesselsinthefisheryareavailabletoverifythenumbersandthefateofanestimated1600silkysharkscaughtbythisfisheryperyear.
Lackofconsistency
Theexampleshighlightedabovealsodemonstrateaclearlackofconsistencyinscoring.Forexample,thePNAfishery,wheretherewereatleast429incidentsofsharkfinning,wasawardedascoreof80(i.e.highlylikelythatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).Meanwhile,theTri-Marinefishery,wheretherewere21reportedincidentsofsharkfinning,receivedascoreof75(‘likely’thatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).
Consequently,thereisnotonlyadiscrepancybetweenconsumersbeingtoldsharkfinningisbannedanditscontinuedincidentincertifiedfisheries,butalsosignificantdiscrepanciesinthewayinwhichtheMSC’ssharkfinningpolicyisapplied.Thesemakeitdifficultforaconsumertounderstand,andhaveconfidencein,thatpolicy.
Conclusion
Toconclude,MSC’sstatedpolicyonsharkfinningappearstobeclear,easytoapplyandprovidingcertaintytoconsumers.ThispolicyisalteredbytheInterpretationLog’sstatementthatafisheryshouldnotfailforsharkfinningifthe“oneortwo”incidentshavebeenappropriatelydealtwithandthevesselssanctioned.IfthatwerehowMSCpolicywasapplied,thenitdoesnotseematoddswithastatementthatthepracticeisbanned.
However,inreality,theaboveexamplesdemonstratethatCABshaveconcludeditis“likelyorhighlylikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace”evenincaseswherethereislittleornodata,littleornoevidenceofsanctions,orthefactof429confirmedincidents.Alsoapplyingaprecautionaryapproachcertificationoffisheriesthatareathighriskofbeinginvolvedinsharkfinning,suchasfisherieswithChineseorTaiwanesevessels,shouldrequireamuchhigherscrutinyduringassessmentandcertificationtoidentifywhethersharkfinningcanberealisticallyassumedas“likely”or“highlylikely”nottohappen.Settingaconditionbywhichthefisheryhastoprovidesuchproofwithinatimeframeof2-3yearsaftercertificationisfarfromtakingaprecautionaryapproach.
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§ Sharkfinningshouldprecludeafisheryupfrontfromenteringthecertificationprocess.Beforecertification,fisheriesthathaveahighriskofinteractingwithsharks,aseithertargetingsharksorhavinghighsharkbycatchinsecondaryspeciesorinETPspecies,shallhaveinplacea‘finsnaturallyattachedpolicy’andCABsmustverifypriortocertificationthatthepolicyisinplaceandcompliedwith.MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognisesonpage36“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChassofarnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60,toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.
§ AvailabilityofadequateexternalverificationforbycatchdataandcompliancewiththebanonsharkfinningisessentialtojustifythescoringoftheCAB.Whileboth,representativehumanobservercoverageorelectronicsurveillancemeasuresmaybeadequatemeasures,theextentofcoveragemustbeconsistentthroughoutfisherieswithsimilarrisksandnolongeratthediscretionoftheCABtodecide,whichextenttoconsideradequate.
§ TheongoingmisapplicationoftheFCRmustnotbeallowedtocontinue.MSCmuststrictlyenforcethetermsoftheFCRonlyallowing1or2incidentswherethereisclear,unequivocalpubliclyavailableevidencethatthevesselshavebeenappropriatelysanctioned.WhereCABshavenotadoptedsuchastance,MSCmustintervene.Ifthecurrentrulesdonotallowthis,theyshouldberevisedassoonaspossible.
We,asagroupofleadingconservationorganisations,smallnon-profitsdedicatedtosharkconservationandtheeradicationofsharkfinning,ethicalretailers,andresponsibleseafoodsuppliers,arekeentoworkwithyouinfindingsolutionssothatthescourgeofsharkfinningispermanentlyeliminatedfromallMSC-certifiedfisheries.TheMSCcanplayanimportantleadershiprolebyensuringthatyourboarddecisiononsharkfinningisfullyimplementedandthatyourorganisationisseentochampionanotoleranceapproachwithrespecttothisabhorrentpractice.
Wehopethatyouwillseethisletterasaconstructiveengagement,settingoutstepsthatyoucantaketoprotectsharksfromfinninginexistingandfutureMSC-certifiedfisheries.Bydoingthisyouwillalsobefulfillingyourdutytoprotectconsumersfrombuyingfishthathasbeenassociatedwiththiswantonandhighlydestructivepractice,whiletheyactuallybelievethattheyarehelpingtoprotectendangeredspeciesandthebiodiversityofouroceans,throughtheir“sustainable”choices.
WearesureyouagreethattheMSClabelshouldneverbeassociatedwiththisabhorrentpractice.
Yourssincerely,
TimThomasPresidentAmericanAlbacoreFishingAssociationNatalieWebsterOperationsDirectorAmericanTunaTooniMahtoFisheriesandThreatenedSpeciesCampaignManagerAustralianMarineConservationSociety
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SusanMillwardDirectorMarineAnimalProgramAnimalWelfareInstituteJoséTrudaPalazzo,Jr.Vice-PresidentTheAugustoCarneiroInstituteDr.FrédéricLeManachScientificDirectorBloomKatrienVandevelde&JanWoutersFoundersBlueSharkConservation
Dr.MarkJonesHeadofPolicyBornFreeFoundationIsabelNaranjoPresidentCREMA(CentroRescateEspeciesMarinasAmenazadas)AlejandraGoyenecheaSeniorInternationalCounselDefendersofWildlifeSiphokaziNdudaneDeputyDirectorGeneralDepartmentofAgricultureForestryandFisheriesRepublicofSouthAfricaUlrikeKirschFoundationBoardMemberDeutscheStiftungMeeresschutzPauloGuilhermeAlvesCavalcantiCo-FounderDiversforSharksShannonArnoldMarinePolicyCoordinatorEcologyActionCentreFelipeVallejoExecutiveDirectorEquilibrioAzul
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BilloHeinzpeterStuderPresidentFairFishInternationalAssociationRandallArauzMarineConservationPolicyConsultantFinsAttachedMarineResearchandConservation
ValeskaDiemelDirectorFishAct
SandraBessudoLionFundadora/DirectoraEjecutivaFundaciónMalpeloyOtrosEcosistemasMarinosUlrichKarlowskiBoardMemberGesellschaftzurRettungderDelphineVeerleRoelandtPresidentTheGlobalSharkConservationInitiativeOliverKnowlesSeniorAdvisorOceansCampaignGreenpeaceInternationalAndrewLurieSeniorAttorney,InternationalLaw&TradeHumaneSocietyInternationalDavidPhillipsDirectorInternationalMarineMammalProjectEarthIslandInstitutePierre-AndréAdamICSHeadofScience&ProjectsIslandConservationSocietyFredericBuyleNektosDr.JorgeA.JiménezDirectorGeneralMarVivaRosarioAlvarezExecutiveDirectorMIGRAMAR
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Dr.CorneliaE.Nauen,VorsitzendeMundusmarisSandraHinniProjektleiterinNachhaltigkeitFischMIGROSNatalieWebsterVicePresidentOperationsOceanHarvestersOperative
JorgeSerenderoCEOFortheOceansFoundationSigridLüberPresidentOceanCareLouiePsihoyosExecutiveDirectorOceanicPreservationSociety
Dr.SandraAltherrFounderProWildlifeGeorgienneBradleyDirectorSeaSaveFoundationJorgeSerendroPresidentSeaShepherdConservationSociety,CostaRicaAndyOttawayFoundingDirectorSealProtectionActionGroup
FernandoReisExecutiveDirectorSharksEducationalInstituteFabienneRossierPresidentSharksMissionFranceMarieLevineExecutiveDirectorSharkResearchInstitute
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SabineFalkBoardSharkSaversGermanyDavidMcGuireDirectorSharkStewardsStefanieBrendlExecutiveDirector,FounderSharkAllies
HerbertFutterknechtPresidentSharkprojectAustriaFriederikeKremer-ObrockPresidentSharkprojecte.V.GermanyAlexSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectInternationalDeniseSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectSwitzerland
BaronJuppKerckerinckzurBorgFounderSharkprotecte.V.Germany
AliHoodDirectorofConservationTheSharkTrustJulianEngelSecondChairmanStopFinningTomVierusMarineBiologist,Photographer,Filmmaker,GermanSciencePhotographer2016/2017Prof.RalphO.SchillPresidentScientificCommitteeGermanUnderwaterFederation(VDST)
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AlexHoffordWildlifeCampaignerWildAidHongKongDr.AndrewVenterChiefExecutiveOfficerWILDTRUSTSouthAfrica
AndyOttawayFoundingDirectorCampaignWhaleLatiefaBehardienHeadofTechnologyLongLifeWoolworthsJohnBurtonChairmanandChiefExecutiveWorldWiseFoods
CallumRobertsProfessorofMarineConservation,EnvironmentDepartmentUniversityofYork,UK
Dr.Catherine(Cat)Dorey,IndependentAdvisoronFishesandFisheries
PhillipeCurySeniorScientistandScientificCoodinatorofEUROMARINEInstitutdeRecherchepourleDéveloppement
