UN. MSC as global indicator for action on biodiversity loss – Certification to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Global Standards for Environmentally Sustainable Seafood was recognized at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP-15) as a way to scientifically measure efforts to reverse the worrying decline in global biodiversity.
Data on catches and MSC certified supply chains are official indicators in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework for two of the targets. The first objective concerns the sustainable management and trade of wildlife species and the second concerns the integration of biodiversity values into economies. Governments can use complementary indicators to measure progress against these goals.
Credible national action and measurement of results will be key to ensuring the success of this new international agreement.
MSC-compliant fisheries must maintain healthy fish populations, minimize bycatch and minimize impacts on protected, threatened and endangered species, as well as the wider marine ecosystem.
Presence in the Global Framework is a sign of the credibility of the MSC program to help maintain biodiversity. Developed and negotiated by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the new agreement aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve recovery by 2050.
“We are very proud that the MSC certification has been recognized in the new United Nations Global Biodiversity Framework. The recognition speaks to the significant efforts MSC certified fisheries are making to understand their impact on the environment and ensure its sustainability, providing improvements where needed, and the role of the supply chain in recognizing and rewarding these efforts,” he said. MSC Chief Executive Officer Rupert Howes. “This international agreement on biodiversity is a great achievement. The challenge now – added Howes – will be to ensure that promises are kept with concrete actions. MSC certification provides businesses and governments around the world with a credible measure of their efforts to safeguard life in our oceans, providing food and livelihoods for billions of people.”
The MSC program supports healthy marine ecosystems by promoting sustainable fishing practices.
UN. MSC as global indicator for action on biodiversity loss
