# Fiji Achieves MSC Certification

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/fiji-achieves-msc-certification/
- Published: 2020-01-29T20:55:42-05:00
- Author: greenguruguides

Gland, Switzerland – [WWF](http://wwf.panda.org/) commends the Fiji Albacore Tuna
Longline Fishery. All for becoming the first in Fiji to achieve Marine Stewardship
Council, (MSC) Certification. A move WWF says will continue to promote the future
health of tuna stocks in the region; bringing major benefits to the fishing industry,
and result in positive impacts for consumers worldwide.

So the MSC conditionally awarded the certification to the Fiji Tuna Boat Owners 
Association (FTBOA) Albacore Tuna Longline Fishery. As well, the fishery is managed
and regulated by the [Western and Central Pacific Fisheries](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/01/fisheries-commission-blind-to-bigeye-fate/)
Commission (WCPFC). In addition to the Fijian government.

Moreover, WWF South Pacific is an active supporter of the FTBOA’s ambitions for 
the MSC certification. They were also actively involved in the assessment process.
The assessment against the MSC standard spanned 18 months. It was also conducted
by an independent third party certifier.

The certificate is valid for five years. During that time, progress against the 
conditions within the certification requirements will be tracked. Additionally, 
they will available for public review in annual surveillance audits.

#### Certification benefits and maintenance

In addition, Russell Dunham is FTBOA Secretary and Manager of the Fiji Fish Marketing
Group. He also said the MSC certification will create market benefits. All for the
Fijian tuna fishery.

“MSC certification will help promote the Fijian domestic fishery. It will also promote
Fiji’s role in asserting Albacore Tuna management measures. All as part of the conditions
of certification”; said Dunham.

He also explains that the certification offers opportunities. All to develop new
markets. Especially in areas where demand for certified sustainable seafood is already
high.

The fishery is also devoted to improving aspects of the fishery. Consequently up
to the international best practice level. This includes also improving management
of the fisheries to establish reference points. That’s a harvest strategy and harvest
control rules.

The fishery has also implemented a management strategy. It will ensure the fishery
does not slow down the recovery and rebuilding of retained species.

Daniel Suddaby, WWF’s Smart Fishing Initiative Tuna Program Manager, adds “We enthusiastically
support FTBOA’s efforts. Especially in seeking and achieving certification. In addition,
we do reserve some concerns about the conditions put in place by the MSC. Especially
which the fishery must meet in order to retain certification. The WCPFC and Fiji
government must also take substantial actions on important management measures. 
I mean very soon to ensure the FTBOA maintains their certification.”

WWF is also eager to work with the FTBOA, WCPFC, and the Fiji government. The goal
is to consequently assure that the Fiji Albacore Longline fishery can maintain its
MSC certification.

#### Notes

_Benchmark values help managers decide how the fishery is performing. It is often
based on an indicator. That’s such as fishery stock size or the level of fishing.
Scientists conduct a fishery stock assessment. All to provide estimates of fishery
stock size and fishing mortality over time. _

_Reference Points serve as a standard to compare those estimates. It’s based on 
our understanding of the biological characteristics of the targeted species. Additionally,
there are harvest control rules for the management body. The intention is to achieve
a medium or long-term target reference point while avoiding reaching a limit reference
point._

_Albacore Tuna is an important commercial and game fish, highly prized for its white
tasty meat. Markets in China, Japan and the US, largely sell the fish fresh or frozen._

_Making up around 70 – 80% of the tuna catch recorded in Fiji, Albacore Tuna represents
a large portion of the tuna export earnings._

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 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman, is recognized as a green living guru and electric
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## Comments

### By: Maggie @ Coral

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/fiji-achieves-msc-certification/#comment-3270
- Published: 2014-03-14T10:37:24-04:00

Superb, I’m sure nobody wants to see tuna stocks plummet less than the farmers, 
so it’s very much in their interest