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MSC - Simpler, Faster and More Consistent Assessments
- By Collaborative INSIGHTS
- Published 21 July 2008
- Who's Who In Certifications and Standards
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The new Fishery Assessment Methodology is an addition to the existing MSC Fishery Certification Methodology (which defines the process for assessments), and will strengthen the assessment process at the heart of the world’s most trusted and credible seafood certification program.
The release of this new Methodology will mean a change in the process by which fisheries are assessed. In the past, independent certifiers were required to create an assessment tree for each individual fishery entering assessment. The new Fishery Assessment Methodology now provides a default assessment tree that will be used as the basis for all new assessments; every fishery will now know ahead exactly what will be asked of them in order to meet the MSC standard. In addition, the new assessment tree is supported by comprehensive guidance that clearly outlines to certifiers exactly how the MSC standard should be interpreted.
MSC Deputy Chief Executive Chris Ninnes is in charge of the project: “This launch of the standardized assessment trees with 31 default indicators and scoring guideposts is the culmination of a two year intensive effort to take the world’s most rigorous standard for fisheries sustainability and create a tool that makes application of that standard even better. The new methodology is the biggest change in the MSC program since the standard was created back in the 1990s. The new methodology doesn’t raise or lower the bar but it will improve the consistency of assessments by defining the assessment trees from the outset.”
Ensuring that the new methodology doesn’t raise the bar – or lower it – has been a key concern for the team that developed it. Dan Hoggarth, MSC’s Fisheries Assessment Director, says: “The new standardized assessment tree provides the operational interpretation of the MSC standard. It has been developed and tested in collaboration with our independent certifiers, assessment experts and other stakeholders. A range of tests have clearly shown the similarity of the scores obtained for the new standardized assessment tree against the previous tree.”
The Fishery Assessment Methodology will be phased in over the next two years and will start to take effect on fisheries entering the full assessment process from July 2008. For further information, please visit the MSC website.
Media Contact:
Lisa M. Bailey
Communications Manager, Americas
Marine Stewardship Council
Phone: 206.691.0188 x104
The release of this new Methodology will mean a change in the process by which fisheries are assessed. In the past, independent certifiers were required to create an assessment tree for each individual fishery entering assessment. The new Fishery Assessment Methodology now provides a default assessment tree that will be used as the basis for all new assessments; every fishery will now know ahead exactly what will be asked of them in order to meet the MSC standard. In addition, the new assessment tree is supported by comprehensive guidance that clearly outlines to certifiers exactly how the MSC standard should be interpreted.
MSC Deputy Chief Executive Chris Ninnes is in charge of the project: “This launch of the standardized assessment trees with 31 default indicators and scoring guideposts is the culmination of a two year intensive effort to take the world’s most rigorous standard for fisheries sustainability and create a tool that makes application of that standard even better. The new methodology is the biggest change in the MSC program since the standard was created back in the 1990s. The new methodology doesn’t raise or lower the bar but it will improve the consistency of assessments by defining the assessment trees from the outset.”
Ensuring that the new methodology doesn’t raise the bar – or lower it – has been a key concern for the team that developed it. Dan Hoggarth, MSC’s Fisheries Assessment Director, says: “The new standardized assessment tree provides the operational interpretation of the MSC standard. It has been developed and tested in collaboration with our independent certifiers, assessment experts and other stakeholders. A range of tests have clearly shown the similarity of the scores obtained for the new standardized assessment tree against the previous tree.”
The Fishery Assessment Methodology will be phased in over the next two years and will start to take effect on fisheries entering the full assessment process from July 2008. For further information, please visit the MSC website.
Media Contact:
Lisa M. Bailey
Communications Manager, Americas
Marine Stewardship Council
Phone: 206.691.0188 x104