[ TRADE AND MARKETS ] formulated to cover virtually all fish, crustacean and mollusc species produced in worldwide aquaculture. They are scientifically sound, stringent and are constantly updated to meet changing aquaculture challenges. Seafood products from BAP-certified companies are listed in over 150 retail and food service companies. Despite its undeniable quality, however, the label attracts little interest on the European market. Only in Great Britain does it have a certain significance, as also in Poland, Norway, Turkey and Iceland where a few companies are BAP-certified, especially those that supply products to the USA.
Iceland and Alaska try to score points with national certificates The state labels that have been introduced in recent years (in Iceland and Alaska, for example) have mostly shared the same fate as the BAP label. In Iceland, where the fishing industry is a key pillar of the national economy, sustainable and responsible fisheries management is a state concern and is as such implemented rigidly. The excellent condition of Iceland’s marine resources is a vivid manifestation of this stringent policy which is based on national law and international agreements. With
Alaska’s fishing industry has a very good reputation. Its sustainability standards are unique and recognized worldwide.
the “Statement on Responsible Fisheries in Iceland� which was adopted in 2007 the country’s authorities met the needs and desire of trade and the market for seafood products from sustainable sources. The IRF (“Iceland Responsible Fisheries�) label guarantees buyers that the products they are buying originated in Icelandic waters and were caught sustainably. The standards of the IRF programme are based on internationally recognised FAO guidelines from which the IRF Technical Committee developed assessment requirements which were then integrated into an ISO 65 certification programme managed by the Irish Global Trust Certification Ltd, an independent certification body with ISO accreditation for such projects. The Iceland Responsible Fisheries Foundation operates as a non-profit organisation on a cost basis, Icelandic fisheries are certified by third parties, and the assessment process is fully transparent at all stages. It would hardly be possible to do more and there is nothing to be said against considering the IRF logo equal to the MSC seal. This also applies to the Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Programme (RFM) of the State of Alaska. The commitment to sustainable fishing is even laid down in Alaska’s constitution. The Alaska RFM Programme is a voluntary certification that includes Chain of Custody standards as well as sustainability standards for fisheries. The RFM programme complies with FAO guidelines for responsible fisheries management and is one of the few programmes to have an accredited certification process according to standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 17065). Alaska’s RFM was
the first certification programme to be recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) benchmarking tool. The RFM programme is in accordance with all 143 applicable GSSI Essential Components. As in Iceland, marine fisheries in the USA are conducted solely according to scientifically based fisheries management plans which ensure that overfishing is avoided, overfished stocks are rebuilt, and by-catches and interactions with protected species are avoided. The social and economic consequences for fishing communities are also taken into account. All fishing grounds are permanently monitored, regionally managed, and subject to ten national sustainability standards, irrespective of who is fishing there, whether recreational fishermen, small local fishermen or large fishing vessels that catch and process millions of tonnes of fish. Like the Icelandic IRF logo, Alaska’s RFM seal stands for sustainable management of marine resources on a scientific basis and compliance with legal standards of environmental protection. Apparently this is not enough, however, because the Alaska pollock fishery in Alaska is also certified by the MSC. Although the goals, content and values of the IRF and RFM standards leave little to be desired they play only a minor role in the European seafood business. Real competition in the field of sustainability and eco-labelling has long since ceased to exist. And there is little hope that benchmark tools such as the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) that examines which certification programmes best meet the stringent requirements of the internationally recognised FAO guidelines will be able to make purchasing decisions easier for
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