Introducing Friend of the Sea Certification of seafood products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
The organisation Founded in 2008, Friend of the Sea is committed to improving the global sustainability of seafood by developing international certification schemes for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture products. Friend of the Sea certified products cover the majority of traded species, fishmeal, fish feed, fish oil and Omega. It is the largest certification scheme for seafood products worldwide. Since 2008 it has certified more than 2,000 products, recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing practices and influencing consumer choices when buying seafood. Using its ecolabel and fishery certification program Friend of the Sea has contributed to the health of the world s oceans safeguarding livelihoods and economies. In 2015, Friend of Sea had 481 certified companies; 131 farmed, 196 wild-caught, and 108 fishmeal and fish oil in 59 countries with 25 retailers participating in the scheme. Compared to the previous year, there has been an increase of 15% in the number of certified companies. Yellowfin tuna after being handline caught in Sri Lanka. A Thung Chai boat in Vietnam using hooks and lines. The top five species certified through Friend of the Sea are arctic char (32 companies), Antarctic krill (31), albacore tuna (29), bigeye tuna (26) and black tiger prawn (25). 2
Our mission Our mission is to conserve the marine environment whilst ensuring sustainable fish stocks for generations to come. The Friend of the Sea certification program and seafood eco-label recognize and reward sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices. We work globally with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environment choice in seafood. Our standards are ever improving to meet consumer demand and mirror the latest science and best practice. This ensures fisheries continue to be motivated to change and adapt to better safeguard our oceans. As the only scheme in the world certifying both wild caught and farmed seafood, our ecolabel and fishery certification program casts the net far and wide. Our relatively affordable accreditation process promotes our philosophy which aims to ensure all players, big or small can access the seafood market, particularly those from developing countries which constitute the bulk of seafood supply. A farmed garoupa is held up for show in Malaysia. A coral farm in Fiji certified Friend of the Sea (2015) Farmed red snappers from Malaysia certified Friend of the Sea. At Friend of the Sea we encourage responsible management of the marine environment for all those who interact with it. In recent years this has seen us expand our certification scheme beyond fisheries to include criteria for other marine activities. These include standards for whale watching operators, shipping companies and ornamental fish. Through these focused certifications we continue to drive responsible practices in the marine environment conserving it. 3
The Friend of the Sea certification scheme FAO Guidelines: Friend of the Sea criteria follow the UN FAO - Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. In particular, only products from stocks which are not overexploited can be certified (Art. 30 FAO Guidelines). Traceability: The Friend of the Sea certification and chain of custody standard is designed to ensure that certified seafood can be traced back to a sustainable, well managed source. Farmed scallops from Peru certified Friend of the Sea Independent certification bodies: Sustainable products and their origins are audited onsite by accredited independent certification bodies (DNV GL and RINA) against Friend of the Sea criteria. EU accredited: Friend of the Sea is the only seafood certification scheme to have gained EU accreditation from a member of the network of EU national accreditation bodies, Accredia. Collaboration: Friend of the Sea s Advisory Board is comprised of voluntary fisheries and aquaculture experts from around the world that drive continuous improvement in the scheme. Stakeholder involvement: Stakeholders are an important part of the Friend of the Sea project, ensuring diversity of opinion, perspective and approach to our scheme. Accessibility: By reducing costs and making requirements simpler, without compromising standards, up to 50% of the companies certified are small-scale producers. Whale watching operations in Sri Lanka certified Friend of the Sea (2015). Social accountability: All our certified fisheries must adhere to strict social accountability standards which include socio-economic aspects. 4
Why chose Friend of the Sea certification? Market demand Aquaculture producers and fisheries world-wide are increasingly working towards becoming accredited under globally recognised independent sustainability programs as consumer awareness increases market demand for sustainably certified seafood. Consistency Friend of the Sea is the only certification scheme in the world that certifies both wild caught and farmed seafood, enabling the identification of all sustainable seafood products with the same seal of approval. Value Experience in other natural resource sectors has shown that certification can have a real impact on market demand and that consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability (e. g. organic farming, fair trade, FSC, etc). Credibility The Friend of the Sea program provides a traceable product for consumers. In countries where fisheries are highly regulated and sustainable, the international certification of Friend of the Sea could leverage their environmental credentials and make them recognised worldwide. Access Joining the Friend of the Sea project allows our customers to access new markets and improve trading relationships: retailers in USA, EU and China show a preference for certified products. Productivity and catch improvements Sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices are economically beneficial for producers. Some fisheries reported less sorting of by-catch due to the introduction of by-catch devices and lower costs of electricity and fuel by applying carbon footprint reduction standards. Local communities Our fisheries and aquaculture producers adhere to strict social and environmental standards. Companies operate responsibility often supporting growth in communities with low impacts on the marine environment. 5
Certification of seafood products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture www.friendofthesea.org info@friendofthesea.org