Problem and Course of Action

What is the Problem?

Overfishing has become such a catastrophic issue that marine populations declined by 49% between 1970 and 2012 and continue declining exponentially ("Oceans at risk," 2021). With seafood being one of the most widely traded foods globally, the growing demand for seafood is rising, and overfishing will continue to alter the ecosystems that marine organisms depend on to survive. Since oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, the survival of the oceans is necessary to supply oxygen and regulate climate.

The MSC's Course of Action

Since the WWF founded the MSC 24 years ago, they have been working with fishing industries, scientists, and fisheries to ensure that fisheries sustainably fish the oceans. Worldwide, fisheries certified by the MSC Fisheries Standard account for 15% of marine catch sold at over 38,000 sites, including grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and more ("Our collective impact," 2021). To make this possible, certified sustainable fisheries have made more than 1,7000 management and performance improvements introducing the MSC-certified sustainable seafood ecologo, better known as the blue fish logo. To continue on the path towards global sustainable fishing practices, the MSC works to persuade environmentally conscious seafood consumers to purchase seafood with the blue MSC logo.

References

Marine Stewardship Council. (2021). Oceans at risk. Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/oceans-at-risk

Marine Stewardship Council. (2021). Our collective impact. Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/our-collective-impact

Image Credits

Marine Stewardship Council. (2019). Theory of change graphic [Graphic].

Marine Stewardship Council. (2019). MSC futures forum presentation [PDF Documents].

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