Recently, many stakeholders are calling for the development of a “blue economy”—an integrated approach to sustainable development that builds on the understanding that the world’s oceans not only account for more than 70 per cent of the planet’s surface area, but also form the foundation of global economic sustainability. An estimated 80 per cent of all seafood is produced in developing countries, with more than 90 per cent of fishers and fish farmers being located in Africa and Asia. The close relationship between seafood production and global sustainability has given rise to a host of voluntary sustainability standards seeking to ensure the application of sustainable practices in the sector. While one of the main purposes of such initiatives is to facilitate consumer choice, their multiplication is presenting consumers and manufacturers with ever more complex choices.
This report State of Sustainability Initiatives Review offers a rare analysis of the market and performance characteristics of international sustainability standards operating across both the wild catch and aquaculture sectors. The Review provides a reference point for buyers, producers, policy makers and consumers in deciding how best to apply voluntary standards in their own decision-making processes.
More information including interesting visualization of the main findings can be found here.