Woolworths partners with Marine Stewardship Council

Globally, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that approximately 85% of the world's fish stocks are either overexploited or exploited to their maximum. According to a new report by WWF-SA, The WWF Fisheries: Facts and Trends South Africa, many of South Africa's inshore marine resources are in a relatively similar position, with almost 50% of our marine resources fully exploited, considered overexploited or collapsed. The status of many of South Africa's line fish species is particularly worrying, with almost 70% of the commercial species considered collapsed to less than 10% of their pre-fishing populations.

The MSC is working with fishing industries around the world to transform seafood markets to a sustainable basis by promoting voluntary certification against their global standard. It has developed a standard for sustainable fishing and for traceability/chain of custody. Fisheries are assessed against the standards by independent accredited certifiers. Products from certified fisheries are eligible to carry the MSC eco-label as assurance of sustainability.

"Sustainability of seafood stocks"

Speaking about the partnership, MD of Foods Zyda Rylands said, "Both groups are passionate about the same things: ensuring the sustainability of seafood stocks, minimizing the environmental impact of all fishing activities and ensuring that fisheries operate within the laws and regulations governing the industry and in ways that maintain the sustainability of the species they catch.

"We see our partnership as complementary to our relationship with SASSI. While SASSI works with consumers, retailers and restaurants and focuses primarily on creating awareness of sustainable and unsustainable choices, MSC is a certification and eco-labelling programme that focuses on specific wild-capture fisheries that enter into assessment against the MSC standard.

"WWF SASSI recognises the MSC as the world's leading eco-label for wild caught seafood and all the products from MSC-certified fisheries are automatically placed on the SASSI 'green list'. Both organisations are working towards a common goal: ensuring the future sustainability of this vital resource, and we are excited to be working with both organisations.

"We look forward to continuing to work with the MSC to help ensure that future generations will also be able to enjoy the bounty of our oceans," concludes Rylands.