In a significant boost for India’s seafood exports, the country is expected to enter the global fisheries certification by the end of 2025.
A stakeholder workshop held in Kochi on Monday highlighted that India is making remarkable progress towards sustainable fisheries, with most prioritized species nearing the completion of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). This progress is crucial for assessing fisheries against the standards of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, which includes sustainable stock levels, minimal environmental impact, and effective fishery management systems.
The capacity-building workshop was hosted by the Sustainable Seafood Network India (SSNI) in association with various stakeholders to equip them with the principles of MSC certification and discuss progress towards sustainable fisheries management in India.
Marine scientists, government officials, environmentalists, certification experts, and exporters attended the workshop. In India, a dozen prioritized fisheries have already conducted pre-assessments against the MSC Standards, enabling stakeholders to develop clear action plans for improvement.
The workshop observed a significant surge in global demand for certified seafood. Amanda Lejbowicz, Head of Fisheries Standard Accessibility of MSC, London, noted that over 15% of the total marine catch worldwide is certified fishery. “Certified seafood products in different forms such as canned, chilled, frozen, and baby foods are on the rise, with canned products registering a 9% increase in demand last year,” said Lejbowicz.
She further mentioned that more countries are joining the certification initiative, with 63 countries currently engaged in MSC certification. “With the growing global emphasis on sustainability, eco-labeling has become a critical factor in market access, competitiveness, and export growth. International buyers, especially in Europe, the US, and Japan, are increasingly demanding certified sustainable seafood,” Lejbowicz added.
Dr. Sunil Mohamed, an eminent marine scientist and Chairman of the SSNI, emphasized the need to integrate sustainability certification and auditing into university fisheries curricula to ensure a sufficient supply of auditing professionals in the field.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization that sets globally recognized standards for sustainable fishing and the seafood supply chain.
