Seaspiracy Backlash

Even though the MSC has done a proficient job providing ample information and resources to its target audience, they recently received backlash from individuals and the media. The backlash stemmed from the release of the Netflix documentary, “Seaspiracy,” which questioned the credibility of the MSC and claimed there is no such thing as sustainable fishing. These claims were the result of the MSC declining to be interviewed by director Ali Tabrizi.

In response, the MSC posted an article on their website, addressing the false accusations and explaining that “Sustainable fishing does exist and helps protect our oceans.” They also used Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as additional mediums to post a response, explaining that they declined the interview because the filmmakers claimed that there was no such thing as sustainable fishing in their previous documentary, Cowspiracy.

In addition to posting a response to the Seaspiracy documentary, the MSC posted an article on its website titled "Don't just take our word for it." Here, the MSC states that "The MSC was the first international seafood labeling program to be recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), which confirms that we meet the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s guidelines" ("Is Seafood," 2021). Additionally, this page points out that the MSC is a member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance. To be a member, the MSC must comply with the Codes of Good Practice, a 24-page document listing the code requirements. Lastly, the MSC meets the best practice requirements of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative, making it the only global program to be compliant with four organizations simultaneously.

Along with the MSC, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) also accused the filmmakers of making misleading claims about its organization. Even though the MSC handled the situation diligently, its response may be biased, which is why there are still seafood consumers that are skeptical of the MSC's claims to support sustainable fishing practices. The scholarly journal, Marine Policy, analyses the effectiveness that the MSC has on marine life and the environment by examining the patterns of adoption and certification effects. This journal mentions that the MSC collaborated with the UK Marine Resources Assessment Group to conduct a study to review the potential benefits that the MSC certification initiative has on the environment. Even though the study found that the MSC's sustainable fishing certification is not enough to terminate overfishing and impoverished fish stocks in solitude, "The study found a number of process improvements in MSC-certified fisheries that could lead to enhanced marine biodiversity conservation" (Gulbrandsen, 2009). The journal suggests that new government laws need to be placed and enforced to stop these substantial issues entirely. Conceivable laws may include restricted access to commercial fishing equipment and strict policy for illegal fishing reduction.