INTERNATIONAL TRADE, ECO-LABELLING, AND SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES - RECENT ISSUES, CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES

• Published in: Environment, development and sustainability Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 91 - 106
• Main Authors: Potts, Tavis, Haward, Marcus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-02-2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Certification; Consumer behavior; Consumers; Councils; Descriptive labeling; Dolphins & porpoises; eco-labelling; Ecology; Environmental conditions; Environmental labelling; Environmental protection; Europe; Fish; Fisheries; Fisheries management; Fishery development; Fishery management; Food safety; International trade; Labeling; Labelling; Management; Marine Stewardship Council; Non-governmental organizations; Regulation; Studies; Sustainability; Sustainable fisheries; Third party; U.S.A
• ISSN: 1387-585X; 1573-2975
• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-005-9006-3

Certification of where, when and how fish are caught is emerging as an important fisheries management tool. The history of eco-labelling in the fisheries sector is relatively short and actual experiences of eco-labelling are limited, although an emerging trend is shaping in European and US markets. Eco-labelling in fisheries gained increased impetus with the development of the non-government Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in 1996. This paper reviews the emerging importance of certification and eco-labelling in the fisheries sector, the development and operation of the MSC, identifying particularly the role of 'third party certification' as promoted by the MSC, and notes the opportunities and challenges for the MSC and eco-labelling in general.