New Delhi: Thiruvananthapuram: The Marine the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification is gaining significant momentum in India, with a growing number of stakeholders showing strong interest in the initiative. In a notable development, a top government official of the country’s southern state Kerala pledged the state’s support for the initiatives to secure the global certification. This marks a crucial step forward in aligning India’s fisheries sector with international sustainability standards, fostering both environmental conservation and economic growth.
B Abdul Nasar, Special Secretary to Kerala Fisheries Department said that the global certification would enhance the global competitiveness of India’s seafood exports and ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
The Secretary was speaking at a capacity building workshop for government fisheries officials held here on Wednesday aimed to equip them with MSC fisheries standards.
“The Department of Fisheries which is tasked with management of the marine resources in the state will guarantee that appropriate management measures as advised by the research institutions are put in place and enforced to ensure sustainable fisheries in Kerala”, Abdul Nasar said. The MSC certification would be highly advantageous for all stakeholders in the fisheries sector, from the hardworking fishers to the exporters, and ultimately, society at large, he added.
Expressing concern over dwindling fish catches and climate change impacts, he said that it is essential to adopt sustainable fishing practices to ensure livelihood and preserve marine biodiversity, adding that the global certification is very much essential for the overall improvement of the Indian fisheries sector. “The MSC certification will boost seafood export as well as environmental sustainability. To facilitate this transformative journey, the Department of Fisheries is dedicated to providing unwavering support and guidance”, he added.
As part of India’s initiatives for the MSC certification, a dozen species, including deep sea shrimp, coastal shrimp, cuttlefish, threadfin breams and blue swimming crab, have already been prioritised and most of their fishery improvement projects (FIPs) are in the final stage. The assessment of these fisheries will be held against the MSC standards upon completion of the FIPs.
Depletion of resources
“It is alarming that depletion of resources and drastic drop in commercially important species as it will disrupt the livelihood of fishermen”, said Dr Sunil Mohamed, former Principal Scientist of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
“Shrimp and squid landings, along with those of numerous other species, are experiencing a significant decline, leading to severe supply shortage in the seafood value chain. This demands immediate adoption of sustainable practices and the efforts to secure the MSC certification could restore the fish stock and long-term health of the sector”, he added.
‘Will Boost Exports to Europe and North America’
Amanda Lejbowicz, Head of Fisheries Standard Accessibility of MSC, London led the technical sessions at the workshop. MSC certification would significantly boost India’s fishery exports to Europe and North America by unlocking greater market access and enhancing its international reputation for sustainable fishery management, she said.
The workshop called for collaboration of all the stakeholders including fishermen, researchers, environmentalists and fisheries managers for obtaining the global certification. Joint Directors, Deputy Directors and other officials from the Fisheries Department attended the workshop, which was jointly organised by the MSC and the Fisheries Department in association with various non-governmental organisations.
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