MSC BRIEFING O1 (2021) .

Small pelagic
fisheries
Meeting future challenges
Climate change is prompting small pelagic fish stocks
to move and adapt. So too must the seafood industry if
we are to protect this vital marine resource. Identifying
sustainably managed small pelagic fisheries through
MSC certification is key to supporting this change.

Stronger sourcing
The MSC Program demonstrates that small pelagic
fisheries can be managed sustainably. Stronger
commitments to sustainable sourcing from processors,
retailers and brands will incentivise further improvement.

Sustainable aquafeed
Small pelagic fish are a major source of fishmeal and fish
oil to the aquaculture sector. As this sector continues togrow, it is vital that aquafeed is sustainably sourced.

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MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

forewOrd
Camiel Derichs, MSC Global
Program Development Director
Small pelagic fish are the unsung
heroes of the ocean. Fast growing andshort lived, they underpin marine foodwebs and support livelihoods from the frozen Southern
Ocean to the North Atlantic.
But this important group of species faces a complex
range of pressures. Climate change is leading stocksof herring, mackerel and sardine – some of the world’s
most heavily traded fish – to shift their distributions
toward the north and south poles¹. This presents newchallenges to fisheries governance and management¹.
Where it occurs, overfishing is posing a threat to delicate
marine ecosystems including the birds and other animals
that rely on small pelagic species for food. While asurge in demand for fishmeal and fish oil is prompting
heavy pressure to keep landings high and a greater
share to shift to reduction, in some cases this diverts
nutritionally important fish away from vulnerable coastal
communities².
The need for sustainable fishing has never been so
important for small pelagic fisheries. The MSC program
can play a key role in turning the tide.
The MSC is a mission-driven non-profit organisation. Our
mission is to use our ecolabel and fishery certification
program to contribute to the health of the world’s
oceans by recognising and rewarding sustainable fishingpractices. By working with our partners we hope totransform the seafood market to a sustainable basis andinfluence the choices people make when buying seafood.
As of 2020, 56 fisheries targeting small pelagic species
are engaged with the MSC Program*. These fisheries
collectively land over five million tonnes a year, around a
fifth of the global small pelagic catch¹.
The MSC’s history with small pelagic fisheries began
20 years ago when Thames Blackwater herring became
one of the first fisheries to ever enter the MSC Program.
Over the next decade a number of European herring andsardine fisheries gradually followed suit with Antarctic
krill joining the program in 2010. However, the last five
years have seen a surge in the number and diversity ofsmall pelagic fisheries entering the program. Certified
small pelagic fisheries now include menhaden in the USA,
sand eel and pout in the North Sea, anchovy in Cantabria
and Argentina, Baltic herring in Finland and sardinesin Australia and Mexico. With many more small pelagic
fisheries in comprehensive Fishery Improvement Projects,
this trend is expected to continue.
Certification of small pelagic fisheries is driving
positive change both on the water and on land. To reachsustainability performance levels where the MSC Fisheries
Standard can be met, small pelagic fisheries around theworld have strengthened management systems and haveadjusted onboard practices and operations.
Many such fisheries have gained market benefits asa result of certification³. Others have seen a boost to
their reputation among commercial partners or opened
productive dialogues with conservation groups andgovernments during the assessment process⁴. Examplesof these environmental and commercial impacts can befound in the case study section of this report (Pages 17 to
20).
Around the world, demand for fish oil as a nutritional
supplement is rising; aquaculture feed mills are
increasingly sourcing MSC certified ingredients;
while independent research⁵ suggests that seafood
consumers are buying a more diverse range of species
and products, including nutritional supplements, in thename of sustainability. New market opportunities exist for
fisheries that can demonstrate their sustainability to bothconsumers and supply chain partners.
With so many small pelagic fisheries in our programaround the world, the MSC has built deep expertise in
their unique characteristics and challenges. This briefing
consolidates some of this experience, celebrates theecological, social and economic successes that certified
small pelagic fisheries have realised so far, and explains
how working in collaboration with stakeholders can help
to address some of the challenges that small pelagic
fisheries face.

* Engaged includes fisheries that are either certified, suspended or in assessment.

the need for sustainable fishinghas never been so importantfor small pelagic fisheries.
the msc program canplay a key role inturning the Tide.

3

4

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

small pelagic fisheriesconservati0n challenges

Small pelagic fisheries: A background

Climate change

Small pelagic species such as herring, anchovy andsardine are some of the world’s most caught andtraded fish1, making up 28% of global wild capture fish
production25. A key destination is human consumption,
however combined with the by-products from theremaining global catch, a considerable proportion is used
to produce fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture feeds. An
estimated 19% (18 million tonnes) of global marine catchends up as fishmeal or fish oil1. While high demand has
seen prices for fishmeal and fish oil rise1, some of the raw
ingredients used in aquaculture feed come from poorly
managed stocks or unreported landings6.
Although small pelagic fisheries management has
generally become more precautionary over the past
decade, many stocks are still subject to overfishing 7. The
use of unsustainable stocks is exacerbated by the natural
population fluctuations and environmental sensitivity
seen in small pelagic fish. They support delicate marine
ecosystems, underpinning major marine food webs.
Unsustainable fishing can have a knock-on effect to thesurrounding ecology if left unchecked.
In addition to supporting marine ecosystems, small
pelagic fish provide critical nutrition for many vulnerable
coastal communities in the Global South2. Yet the growthof reduction for fishmeal and fish oil in some countries
is seeing small pelagic fish diverted away from humanconsumption, posing a risk to food security1.
Our oceans face a multitude of threats from climate change
to pollution, and around 46% of small pelagic fish stocks
are currently overfished7,8. Stocks have begun to adapt toclimatic changes by shifting their distributions poleward.
The seafood industry must now adapt too if we are tosecure the future of these valuable marine resources.
Aquaculture has been the fastest growing food production
sector over the past 50 years and is expected to provide
59% of fish for human consumption by 20301. As the sector
grows so too will opportunities for small pelagic fisheries
supplying sustainably sourced ingredients.
If the future of these valuable marine resources is tobe secured, it is vital that alongside small pelagic andreduction fisheries committing to becoming sustainable,

the global aquaculture sector also commits to sustainablesourcing. Identifying the small pelagic fisheries that areoperating sustainably through MSC certification is criticalin supporting this change.

Overview of production and consumption
In 2018, global fish production was estimated at 179
million tonnes, with wild-capture fisheries contributing
96.4 million tonnes (54%)1. An estimated 19% of wild
capture production was reduced to produce fishmeal
and fish oil, including both whole fish (60% of fish oil
production; 78% of fishmeal production) and trimmings(40% of fish oil production, 22% of fishmeal production)1.
Small pelagic fish collectively contributed 28% of
wild-capture landings with Peruvian anchoveta alone
contributing seven million tonnes (7% of global wildcapture landings)1,25. In 2018, the global value of the
fishmeal and fish oil markets totalled USD $4.91 billion9
and $2.02 billion10, respectively.
In 2020 landings from small pelagic species engaged
in the MSC Program totalled over five million tonnes,
representing around 20% of small pelagic landings
worldwide1,25, up from 8% of small pelagic landings in
2016. The number of ecolabelled fish oil products also
increased dramatically over the past decade from four in2008 to over 450 in 2020. Now, 9% of all MSC ecolabelled
products are made up of small pelagic species.

in 2018, 19% of global
wild capture fish
production was USED
to produce fishmeal
and fish oil

One major challenge to the future of small pelagic
fisheries is climate change. Warming seas are prompting
species to shift their distributions poleward at a rate of
30–130km/decade11. While environmental science isn’t
always clear cut, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change) indicate that Antarctic krill is alreadyshifting southwards in the Southern Ocean and Atlantic
mackerel stocks have shifted northwards since 200712.
Elsewhere, Peruvian anchoveta, the largest single-species
fishery on Earth1, experiences significant natural yo-yos instock abundance tracing El Niño conditions1. The migrationof fish stocks across Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) canresult in disputes between coastal states making quota
negotiations and supply projections challenging.
Changes to the distribution of small pelagic stocks canlead to disputes between governments over how to share
fishery resources. A challenge that was recently faced by anumber of fisheries for mackerel, herring and blue whitingin the MSC Program in the Northeast Atlantic13. Effective
fisheries management under climate change will require
better international cooperation between governments,
however this is a significant challenge for many countries
balancing economic and environmental interests. Effective
collaboration between governments, scientists and thefishing industry will be key to delivering and maintaining
sustainable stocks. The MSC offers a global benchmark
which brings stakeholders together to deliver credible
long-term solutions.

Overfishing
Fisheries are more resilient to these changes if they
operate sustainably with effective management in place.
Yet in recent years, many small pelagic fisheries have been
overfished6,7. Northeast Atlantic mackerel was overfishedby 33%, the Norwegian spring spawning herring by 35%,
and blue whiting by 29% relative scientific catch advice
from the International Council for the Exploration of the
Sea (ICES)8.

Impacts on marine food webs
Given their importance as a food source to many marine
animals, the impact of fishing for small pelagic species on
the wider marine food webs can be a source of concern.
The MSC Fisheries Standard requires that, for all fisheries,

5

the management of the target species should in some way
take into account its trophic level and the role it plays in
the ecosystem. This is especially important for fisheries
that target ‘key low trophic level’ species, such as manysmall pelagic species. The Standard has an additional
requirement that these key stocks are not fished below thepoint where serious ecosystem impacts could occur (seeHot Topics on Page 10).

Reduction fisheries
What is a reduction fishery?
The MSC defines a reduction fishery as one that
predominantly targets a particular species for the
production of fishmeal or fish oil, as opposed toselling it for direct human consumption. These
fisheries typically target small pelagic (midwater)
species like anchoveta, sardines, blue whiting,menhaden, krill, and capelin.

What is fishmeal?
Fishmeal is a protein-rich flour-like product, that is
produced by milling and drying fish, or fish parts. It
is used to supplement feed for livestock and as a key
ingredient for aquaculture feeds.

What is fish oil?
Fish oil is obtained through the pressing of cooked
fish and separation of the liquid obtained into oil andwater. It is considered the richest available sourceof long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which
perform a wide range of critical functions for humanhealth1.
Fish oils are a valuable by-product in the productionof fishmeal, and are widely used in aquaculture
feeds. Crude fish oil can be further refined, purified
and concentrated to become suitable for humanconsumption, usually in the form of omega-3
supplements or nutraceutical products or medicines.
Can aquaculture be sustainable if it relies on
reduction fisheries? See Hot Topics on Page 11.

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MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

7market opportunities
International trade in small pelagic fish
In 2016, the top five exporting nations of small pelagic fish for human consumption (including frozen fillets, fresh, chilled)
as well as fish oil and fish meal were Peru (9% of global exports; 800,000 tonnes), Norway (8% of exports; 700,000
tonnes), the Netherlands (7% of global exports; 600,000 tonnes), Denmark (7%, 600,000 tonnes) and Morocco (6% of
global exports, 500,000 tonnes)14. The majority of Peru’s exports (84%) were from fishmeal, followed by fish oil (12%) andfrozen mackerel (3%)14.
In the same year, the top importers of small pelagic fish were China (15% of imports, 1.1 million tonnes), Nigeria (6% ofimports, 500,000 tonnes), Norway (6% of imports, 500,000 tonnes), Ghana (4% of imports, 400,000 tonnes) and Japan(3% of imports, 300,000 tonnes)14. The majority of China’s imports were fishmeal (77%) followed by frozen herring (8%)
and frozen mackerel (7%)14.

growth in number of msc-certified krill oil and fish oil products

455

397
316
226

4

6

7

2008

2009

2010

9

17

2011

2012

37
2013

2014

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020**

Growth in fish oil for human consumption
Between 2009 and 2018, global fish oil production
remained relatively stable at around one million tonnes
per year10. However, markets for fish oil have shifted overthat period. In 2009, 83% of fish oil produced was usedin aquaculture (691,000 tonnes) with only 12% directed
to human consumption. By 2018, the proportion used forhuman consumption grew to 20% while the proportion
used in aquaculture dropped to 73% (579,000 tonnes)15.
Total trade in fish oil totalled USD $2.02 billion* in 2018, a
growth of 51% on 2017. In 2018, the top fish oil exporters

were Peru ($379 million), USA ($161 million), Norway ($159
million), Denmark ($140 million), and Chile ($135 million)
while the top importers of fish oil were Norway ($269
million), Denmark ($205 million), United States ($128
million), China ($122 million), and Canada ($117 million)10.
Increasing demand for fish oil for human consumption
has been reflected in the growth of MSC certified fish oil
products over the past decade. In 2008 only four MSC
labelled fish oil supplements were available. This hasgrown to over 450 MSC labelled products in 2020.

* All values are provided in US Dollars unless otherwise stated. ** up to 30.09.2020

Global fishmeal production has remained relatively stablebetween 2009 and 2018 with an average of five million
tonnes produced per year9,14. The proportion of fishmealthat is used in aquaculture has risen from 62% in 2009
to 75% in 2018, reflecting the surge in global aquaculture
over the same time period and the important contributionthat marine ingredients make to aquafeed15.

In 2020, the MSC commissioned the largest survey into
seafood consumption of its kind involving more than
26,000 people across 23 countries5. The survey revealed
that six in 10 seafood shoppers (58%) had already madechanges to the way they choose and buy seafood in thelast year in order to protect fish in our oceans. Changes
included switching to brands or products that say they
help protect the oceans or fish (23%), buying different
seafood species (17%) and changing where they buy
seafood (15%). Eight in 10 seafood consumers (83%) said
they were prepared to take further action in the future tosafeguard the ocean.

In 2018, the value of global trade in fishmeal totalled USD$4.91 billion representing a growth of 12.9% on 20179.
The top fishmeal exporters were Peru ($1.58 billion),
Denmark ($395 million), Chile ($375 million), UnitedStates ($219 million), and Vietnam ($216 million). Overthe same timeframe, the top importers of fishmeal were
China ($2.09 billion), Norway ($297 million), Japan ($272
million), Vietnam ($202 million), and Chinese Taipei ($188
million), all key aquaculture markets9.

Around the world, demand for different types of seafood
is changing, driven by changes to dietary trends. Seafood
consumers are seeking more variety in the types of foodconsumed, and have become more interested in healthand nutrition3.

101

2015

Peruvian anchoveta, are also being marketed for humanconsumption and used in human nutritional supplements1.

Consumer demand is diversifying

168
71

Fishmeal markets remain stable at almost USD$5 billion per year

Historically, larger small pelagic species like mackerel,
herring and sardine were caught for human consumption,
while smaller pelagic fish were more typically converted
into fishmeal or fish oil for use as feed. However,trends are changing and smaller species, including

Now is an opportune time to promote the benefits ofsustainable small pelagic fish to new consumer groups.

Seafood supply chain actors can help drive
sustainability
Aquaculture companies, processors, retailers andrestaurants can help ensure sustainable management ofsmall pelagic fisheries by asking for fishmeal and oil usedin feeds, to originate from fisheries independently verified
as sustainable. Where fisheries are not sustainably
managed and therefore not MSC certified, commercial
actors are encouraged to ask core producers to engage
in a Fishery Improvement Project, verified through the InTransition to MSC program (see Page 15).

8MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

global small pelagic fisheries

global fishmeal and fish oil

MSC certified catch made up ofsmall pelagic species*

world fishmeal use by sector15

39%

Proportion of
global wild
capture production
comprising small
pelagic species25

20

Chicken feed

5%

28

%

Other

Other
Aquaculture

75%

18%

%

world fish oil use by sector15

2%

Pig feed97%
Aquaculture

73%

Human
consumption

20%

Proportion of small pelagic
catch that is MSC certified25*

1,793

small pelagic fisheries

Number of small pelagic
products carrying the MSC ecolabel

engaged with the msc program

From whole fishWORLD FISHMEAL PRODUCTION, 1990-20301% MSC certified% in assessment

Top 10 small pelagic species caught by volume (2018)25% suspended% in a FIP

8m tonnes
7% other

6

Peruvian anchoveta		

7m tonnes

Atlantic herring 		

1.8m

Blue whiting 		

1.7m

4

Sardine			

1.6m

3

Pacific chub mackerel

1.6m

2

Atlantic mackerel		

1.0mJapanese anchovy		

1.0m

Sardinellas nei 		

0.9m

1
0
1990

Japanese pilchard		

0.7m

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

0.6m

% of small pelagic wild capture production that is msc certifed by volume25*

90%

100%

2020

19.7%

top five exporters and importers of fish oil

top five exporters and importers of fishmeal

2018, USDm10

2018, USDm9
Top exporters379

Top importers

2018

18.7%

* MSC certified catch includes certified and suspended fisheries, MSC fisheries data (2020)

117

122

395

2.1k

375

128
Norway135

Denmark

Norway

USA

7.9%

Peru

2016

140

USA

159

China

161

Top importers

1.6k

205

Canada

10.6%

2019

Chile

2017

269

Denmark

15.8%

Top exporters

219

216

272
188

202

297

China

80%

Norway

70%

Japan

60%

Vietnam

50%

Taipei40%

Vietnam

30%

USA

20%

Chile

10%

1995

Denmark

0%

5

Peru

Indian oil sardine		

From fish by-products

10

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

11

hot topics
01 • can forage fisheries
be sustainable?
Yes, if those fisheries are managed and operate
responsibly. Forage fisheries often target species close to
the bottom of the marine food chain, known as low trophic
level species. They include ‘forage fish’ such as anchovy,menhaden, and capelin but also invertebrate species suchas krill15.
Due to their population biology and life history traits(fast growing, highly productive and short lived) these
species are resilient to fishing pressures if catches
are well-managed6. However, overfishing low trophic
level species can have significant impacts on an entire
ecosystem, particularly higher up the food chain, where
many predatory fish, seabirds and marine mammals relyon them as their main food source.
While there are legitimate concerns about the
management and practices of some forage fisheries, theMSC is committed to ensuring MSC certified fisheries areoperating for long term sustainability and are recognised
for their efforts.

How does the MSC Program help?
The MSC Fisheries Standard recognises the importance of
low trophic level species to the entire marine ecosystem.
It has specific and rigorous requirements that must be
met by fisheries targeting species with particularly criticalroles in their local ecosystems. These species are referred
to as key LTL species in the Standard.

MSC certified fisheries that target key LTL species must
adopt a management approach that is focused on limiting
the ecosystem impacts caused by the commercial harvestof these important species. This often means catching alower proportion of the stock compared to fisheries forother species. Specifically, the Standard requires that key
LTL fisheries should maintain their target stock as highas a default 75% of the unexploited level unless there issophisticated ecosystem modelling to allow lower levels,
compared to 40% as a default in non-LTL fisheries. This
ensures that stocks remain abundant and can sustain
healthy predator populations. Key LTL fisheries mustalso provide evidence that their catches are not having
detrimental impacts further up the food chain anddemonstrate that their catch is used as fully as possible,
minimising waste.

02 • are trimmings a moresustainable alternative?
Owing to a drop in the supply of small pelagic landings
from 30 million tonnes in 1994 to 18 million tonnes in
2018, trimmings have been increasingly used to produce
fishmeal and oil. An estimated 25-35% of annual global
fish oil and fishmeal production originates from fish
trimmings or by-products5.

We define key LTL species using the following criteria:

The fact that fish are used in their entirety is to beapplauded. Yet with around a third of the world’s fishstocks overfished; illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing posing a threat to fish populations; and destructive
fishing practices damaging marine ecosystems means not
all trimmings are sourced responsibly.

1.

How does the MSC Program help?

Connectivity: A large proportion of the trophic
connections in the ecosystem involve this species, so
there is a significant predator dependency.

2.

Energy transfer: A large volume of energy passing
between lower and higher trophic levels passes
through this stock.

3.

Uniqueness: Few if any other species are a conduit for
the energy between trophic levels in that ecosystem.

The MSC Program helps producers of fish oil andfishmeal to identify fisheries that have been certified assustainable. By sourcing from MSC certified fisheries,
producers can ensure that the trimmings they buy
have been sourced from well managed fisheries withsustainable fish stocks and minimal impact on the wider
marine environment. Their actions contribute to a virtuous
circle, helping to protect the productivity and health of
our oceans.

03 • IS AQUACULTURE SUSTAINABLE
IF FISH MEAL and oil IS REQUIRED?
The answer isn’t straightforward. The feed used inaquaculture farms or ‘aquafeed’ represents a major
component of the environmental and social footprint ofaquaculture. A large proportion of fishmeal produced by
reduction fisheries is used by the aquaculture industry
as aquafeed. This is because many species of fish andcrustaceans grown in aquaculture are piscivorous i.e. eat
primarily other fish in the wild.
A lot of research and development is being undertaken by
the aquaculture and aquafeed industries to find ‘fish free’alternatives to fishmeal e.g. from algae, plants or eveninsects. This is not only to improve sustainability, but also
to reduce costs. Microalgae especially offers a tremendous
new source of omega-3 rich oil for the feed industry. The
company Veramaris obtained MSC-ASC certification in
January 2021, as the first major algae based omega-3
oil producer. A significant part of the global demandfor omega-3 oil in salmon feed can now be sustainably
supplied.
Yet species including salmon, yellowtail, seabass andseabream usually demonstrate better growth and healthin aquaculture when they are fed with diets containing asmall proportion of marine raw materials19. The amount offishmeal used to feed aquaculture species has reduced overtime but owing to its nutritious and digestible nature, fish
remains an important aquafeed ingredient19.
While fish continues to be used in aquafeed, it is critical toensure it is being supplied by fisheries that are operating
sustainably, whether they are reduction fisheries or
fisheries supplying trimmings for conversion to fishmeal
and oil. Over recent years, aquaculture certification
programs have been developing standards to ensure thesustainable sourcing of aquafeed ingredients by feed mills,
and by aquaculture facilities themselves20. The Aquaculture
Stewardship Council (ASC) will soon launch the global
ASC Feed Standard which defines requirements for the
responsible sourcing of marine and terrestrial animal andplant ingredients for use in aquafeed20.
The new ASC Feed Standard will address marine
ingredients through a global improvement model that

requires feed mills to source marine ingredients fromfisheries demonstrating increasing levels of sustainability
and eventually MSC certification20. This means that ASC
certified fish feed will ultimately contain MSC certified
marine ingredients from sustainable reduction fisheries.

How does the MSC Program help?
By improving the sustainability of their operations andbecoming certified as sustainable against the MSC
Fisheries Standard, reduction fisheries across the world will
be able to maintain and maximise access to the aquafeed
market and supply the wider aquaculture industry withresponsibly sourced marine ingredients. In addition,aquafeed mills and aquaculture farms that source aquafeed
ingredients from MSC certified fisheries will go a long
way to ensuring the aquaculture industry is operating as
responsibly as possible.
The global demand for sustainably farmed seafood is
helping to create a pull for more sustainably managed wild
fisheries which will create an overall benefit for ocean
health.

04 • HOW WILL CLIMATE CHANGE
AFFECT SMALL PELAGIC FISHERIES?
Climate change is having a profound impact on our oceans
and marine life. The impacts include shifts in temperature,acidification, deoxygenation and changes in ocean
currents10.
These changes can affect the distribution of fish stocks
and their food, posing a risk to the fishing industry.
For example, areas of the tropics are predicted to see
declines in potential seafood catch of up to 40% by 20509.
In contrast, areas in higher latitudes, such as the North
Atlantic and North Pacific, are already seeing increases in
the range of species, leading to new fishing opportunities
at the expense of areas closer to the equator wherelandings have reduced.

12

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

Warming-induced range shifts can pose a particularchallenge to fisheries governance when the distributionof a fish stock shifts across a political or managementboundary16. For example, there has been a rapid change
in Atlantic mackerel distribution since 2007. Stocks
have moved northward as sea temperatures have risen,
resulting in disputes between coastal states over how toshare fishery resources12.
In these changing times, governments and the fishingindustry have found it difficult to agree how best to
manage changing fish stocks. The current lack ofinternationally accepted, well-defined, harvest control
rules can make the management and certification of
migratory species that straddle multiple jurisdictions
more complex17.

How does the MSC Program help?
Sustainable fisheries that meet the MSC Fisheries
Standard are well-managed and are generally more
prepared for the impacts of climate change. Certified
fisheries have effective monitoring and managementin place to reduce their effects on the environmentand science-based plans for responding to likely
environmental changes. They demonstrate best practicewhen it comes to balancing economic and environmental
priorities to safeguard our oceans and seafood supplies.

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

Effective fisheries management often requires
international cooperation between governments,
because many fish stocks straddle multiple Exclusive
Economic Zones. As the impacts of climate change
influence the range and size of stocks, it will become evermore important for governments to work together more
effectively.
Existing international fisheries legislation is insufficientin governing shared stocks with many such stocks subject
to overfishing. In absence of effective legislation, credible
standards and market-oriented certification systems offera key tool to incentivise management agencies to deliver
sustainable outcomes through better cooperation.
The MSC Fisheries Standard offers a best-practiceframework which can be used to help stakeholders
manage shared stocks sustainably. It includes
requirements to set harvest control rules and to allocate
catches across fishery participants, prompting dialogue
and decision-making between stakeholders. Such
conversations may not be easy and may take time, but tomanage fishing sustainably requires collaborating andadapting to whatever issues climate change brings.

Northeast Atlantic mackerel, herring and blue whiting
fisheries have undergone major changes in the past
decade. Shifts in the distribution of stocks in response to
climate change have seen stocks migrate to more westerly
and northerly fishing grounds. Although this has created
new fishing opportunities, a lack of agreement on quota
allocations between new and existing fisheries has seenstocks become fished beyond a sustainable limit. As aresult, all three fisheries were suspended from the MSC
Program in 2019 and 202013.
The result of the suspensions is far-reaching. Retailers
and processing companies that were previously able
to demonstrate sustainable sourcing that had been
independently verified by MSC certification can no longer
do so, resulting in impacts to reputation and market
advantage.
Stakeholders are keen to see improvements in thesustainability of these fisheries, not least because
overfishing by some of the most affluent and well-

the msc's approach
We recognise that small pelagic fisheries can face unique challenges as they improve towards sustainability. The MSC
assessment process can provide a valuable framework to better understand and demonstrate the ecological impacts of thefishery. It can also open important conversations with conservation groups and other stakeholders.

The MSC Fisheries Standard

How does the scoring process work?

The MSC Fisheries Standard brings together over 20 yearsof collaboration with scientists, the fishing industry andconservation groups. It reflects internationally acceptedfisheries science and best practice management.

There are 28 performance indicators in the Fisheries
Standard that sit under the three principles.

The three principles of the MSC
Fisheries Standard

resourced countries in the world is setting a poor example
for international fisheries management. The North
Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) was formedby retailers, processors and aquafeed companies fromacross the UK (and some in the EU) to consider how
supply chain actors could advocate for and incentivise
timebound improvements in the management of thesefisheries.
Elsewhere, situations like this have been resolved
through multilateral agreements, providing hope for
the Northeast Atlantic. A coastal states agreement wasformed between Iceland, Greenland and Norway in1998 to ensure stocks of Icelandic capelin, a stock thatstraddles the fishing grounds of the three nations, was
not overfished.
The agreement details how the quotas should be shared
between the three coastal states and is still going strong
today with ISF Icelandic capelin becoming MSC certified
in 2017.

A fishery is given a score for each performance indicator.
The minimum acceptable performance score is 60, while
80 is global best practice. A score of 100 is state of the art.
To be certified, a fishery must score:• At least 60 for each of the 28 performance indicators• An average score of 80 across all performanceindicators under each of the three principles

Principle 1: Sustainability of the stock: Fisheries
must operate in a way that allows fishing to continue
indefinitely, without over exploiting the resource.
Principle 2: Ecosystem impacts: Fishing operations need
to be managed to maintain the structure, productivity,
function and diversity of the ecosystem upon which thefishery depends, including other species and habitats.

Challenges under climate change: the situation in the Northeast Atlantic

13

Principle 3: Effective management: All fisheries need tomeet all local, national and international laws and have aneffective management system in place.

If a fishery scores at least 60 but less than 80 for any
performance indicator, they will receive a condition ofcertification to improve their performance against thatindicator so that it scores 80 or above within the five year
cycle of an MSC fishery certificate. This improvement iscalled a condition.
You can find more information in our Get Certified guidefor fisheries.

State of the art: 100

Best practice: 80

Minimum acceptable: 60

Performance indicator passwith no conditions
Performance indicator passwith conditions
Fail

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MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC
MSCBriefing
Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

traceable supply chains

pathway to sustainability

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard

To ensure that the MSC Program and its benefits are accessible to all, we have developed a suite oftraining, technical and financial tools to support small-scale and data-deficient fisheries, supportingfisheries especially in the Global South.

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard has
five principles

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard ensures that products
from MSC certified sustainable fisheries are traceable,
identifiable, and separated from non-certified products.
The range and quantity of products bearing the blue
MSC label is growing all the time, and expanding rapidly
into new markets including fish oil supplements –creating incentives for more fisheries to strengthen theirsustainability.

Does my business need Chain of Custodycertification?
Any seafood sold with the blue MSC label can be traced
back to a certified source. For this to work, every company
along the supply chain, up until the point where products
are packed into consumer-ready packaging, needs to becertified to the MSC Chain of Custody Standard.
The MSC Chain of Custody Standard includes different
requirements to meet the needs of different types ofbusiness. There are three versions of the Standard:•

Default Chain of Custody - for companies operating
in one or a few locations.

•Group Chain of Custody - for businesses witha central office function and many locations
distributing, processing, trading or serving MSC
certified seafood.

•Consumer-Facing Organisation Chain of Custody- for most businesses selling direct to consumers
such as restaurants or fish counters.

Principle 1:

Companies must purchase certified
product from a certified supplierPrinciple 2:

Certified products are clearly identifiable

ASC - C - 0007
MSC - C - 0009

Principle 3:

Certified products are separated
from non-certified

Pre-assessments

Capacity building program

A pre-assessment is an optional* but recommended
analysis that determines a preliminary performanceagainst the MSC Fisheries Standard and highlights
gaps, to help understand the readiness for a potential
certification process.

A training program for fishery clients, managers,
scientists, consultants and other stakeholders engaged
with fisheries working towards MSC certification. The
program has the objective of building technical capacityand knowledge about the MSC Fisheries Standard and its
use as a framework for improvement, therefore increasing
the accessibility of the MSC Program by any fishery,
regardless of its size, geographical location, or socioeconomic setting.

Action plans
The fishery improvement action plan tool can be used
to develop an action plan that will address the gaps
identified in a fishery’s pre-assessment. The plan should
aim to transform the fishery sufficiently to meet the MSC
Standard requirements following the MSC performanceindicators.

Benchmarking and tracking
Principle 4:

Certified products are traceable
and volumes are recorded

The MSC's Benchmarking and Tracking tool can be used
to consistently and transparently track the actions andenvironmental performance level set out in the action
plan. Progress is measured on an annual basis.

Pathway projects
Principle 5:Your management system addresses
the requirements of the Chain of
Custody Standard

15

Pathway projects combine other pathway tools in a
strategic and collaborative way to engage with multiple
fisheries at the same time, putting fisheries on thepathway to sustainability. At present, 26 of the 130
fisheries in active pathway projects target small pelagic
species (20%).

You can find more detailed information in our Chain of
Custody Get Certified guide.

* A pre-assessment is a compulsory part of the ITM program.

In Transition to MSC Program
The MSC’s In-Transition to MSC Program offers a wayof independently verifying a fishery’s progress on anannual basis, helping them stay on track to achieve
the improvements needed to meet the MSC Fisheries
Standard. Participating fisheries can also gain accessto tailored technical and financial support on their path
towards future certification.

Ocean Stewardship Fund
A portion of the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund iscommitted to support fisheries willing to improve towards
the MSC certification, with a special focus on small
scale fisheries and fisheries in the Global South. We willcontinue to expand this program to support many more
fisheries on their journey to sustainability

16

MSC
MSC
Briefing
Briefing
Small
Small
pelagic
pelagic
fisheries
fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

17case study

making an impact
Certification is creating real change on the water: improving management, facilitating dialogue with NGOs and governancebodies, and minimising the impacts of fishing on the wider marine ecosystem. Some certified fisheries have introduced
voluntary fishing ground closures while others have modified fishing gear to reduce seabird bycatch.
The ecological benefits of certification are often complemented by social and economic benefits on land, as experienced
in the small pelagic fisheries below.

Australian sardine fishery
Target species: Australian sardine (Sardinops sagax) | Gear type: purse seine
Tonnage: 39,071 (2018) First certified: 2018

cornwall sardine
Atlantic Menhaden
MSC certification allows thisUS fishery to differentiate
from competitors on the
global market and will allow
the fishery to continue
supplying ingredients foraquafeed by meeting therequirements of the new
ASC Feed Standard.

Certification has been
particularly important for
gaining and maintaining
access to UK and overseas
markets. While pricepremiums haven’t yet been
experienced, demand forCornish sardines isincreasing, not only in the
UK and EU, but also in Japanand China, where they are
considered a delicacy3,21.

south brittany sardine
Certification has allowed thisFrench fishery to maintainmarket access, preserve its
market share and increase
dialogue with stakeholders.*

In 2018, South Australia’s sardine fishery became thefirst sardine fishery in the Southern Hemisphere and thethird fishery in South Australia to be certified by the MSC.
Australian sardines (Sardinops sagax) are the prime targetof the South Australian Sardine Industry Association(SASIA) and its eight purse seine vessels. Most fishingtakes place at night, with schools of sardines located bysonar. The fishery is very selective with sardines making
up over 99% of the catch.

Sonora small
Pelagic FisheryThrough certification,
fishing companies in
Mexico gained an extra
platform to actively
participate in the fishery’s
co-management system anddecision-making process.
Positive engagement withconservationists also
added new perspectives
and information tostrengthen management4,22.

Collaborative management
Cantabrian sea
purse seine anchovy
Argentine anchovy,
Bonaerense stock
Fishery stakeholders
perceived that MSC
certification would leadto improvements tomanagement andreputation. Oncecertified, they reported
experiencing market
benefits and improved
stakeholder
engagement18.

* Personal communication, M Favret, MSC France

The Swiss supermarket
Migros made a publicpledge to only sell 100%
sustainable seafood by
2020. As a result of MSC
certification, the fishery
was able to maintain its
relationship with theretailer, and Migros
became the first retailer
to offer MSC certified
anchovies from
Cantabria23.

AUSTRALIAN sardine
The fishery now provides asustainable feed option to
the tuna ranching operations
in South Australia.

In addition to its use of selective gears, the fishery is
managed by a limited entry licensing system with a total
allowable commercial catch of between 27,500 to 42,000
tonnes set each year. This makes it the largest fishery byvolume in Australia and means that 46% of Australia’s wild
marine catch is now MSC certified. Due to a successful
partnership between the fishing industry and government,
the fishery has scaled up from a catch of 5,000 tonnes in2000 while maintaining sustainable operations.
“The implementation of an Individual Transferable Quota
management regime in 2000 provided the framework fora sustainable fishery to develop” said Steve Shanks, whomanages the sardine fishery for Primary Industries andRegions South Australia (PIRSA). “The ability of industry

and government to work together to develop the fisherywithin a sustainable framework led to Marine StewardshipCouncil certification. PIRSA looks forward to continuing towork with the sardine industry to develop the fishery forthe local community and all South Australians.”

Supplying domestic aquaculture
The majority of the catch is used as certified fish feedin Port Lincoln’s southern bluefin tuna operations
while a small proportion is sold to domestic retailers
and restaurants as fresh or frozen sardines for humanconsumption.
"MSC certification demonstrates the effort made by
the individuals and organisations involved with theSouth Australian Sardine Fishery over the past 25 years.
By supplying South Australia’s bluefin tuna ranching
operations with MSC certified product, along with thecontinued efforts to develop human consumption productlines for the domestic and potential international markets,
we are proud to support sustainability initiatives acrossAustralia’s wider seafood sector.” said Paul Watson, South
Australian Sardine Industry Association Executive Officer.

18

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheries

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheriescase study

case study

AKER BIOMARINE ANTARCTIC KRILL

Omega Protein Atlantic Menhaden

Target species: Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) | Gear type: mid-water trawl
Tonnage: 253,000 (2019) | First certified: 2010

Target species: Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) | Gear type: purse seine
Tonnage: 141,300 (2018) | First certified: 201919

Credit: Aker Biomarine

The Aker Biomarine fishery operates in the Antarctic
waters of the Southern Ocean. The fishery, which was firstcertified in 2010 and recertified in 2015, targets Antarctic
krill (Euphausia superba), a tiny shrimp-like creature
which is used in fish oil health supplements due to beingrich in Omega-3 phospholipids and the naturally occurring
antioxidant Astaxanthin.
As a keystone species in the Antarctic ecosystem anda major source of food for seals, penguins and whales,
krill is considered a key LTL species. Although fisheries
for the species have been at the centre of considerable
opposition among environmental groups, some ofwhich want no fishing for Antarctic krill at all, the threeassessments against the MSC Fisheries Standard, andthe regular audits clearly demonstrate that the fisheryis operating to the highest standards of environmental
sustainability, assuring that the unique ecosystems andspecies in the Southern Ocean remain intact.

A highly precautionary approach
The management of all fishing activity in the Antarctic
is overseen by the Commission for the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Formed of
25 member states and the European Union, CCAMLR was
established in 1982 to protect and manage the extensive
marine resources of Antarctica. It is known for being
extremely cautious in its approach to fishing impacts on
ecosystems, with management rules and practices closely
following precautionary and ecosystem-based principles.
Catch limits for krill fishing are set by CCAMLR basedon the advice of their scientific committee to minimiserisks either to the krill population or to species within the
Antarctic ecosystem that rely upon krill as a food source.

Given the vast size of the area, its remoteness and thesevere weather conditions, it is not easy or cheap to survey
and estimate krill biomass. Surveys are only taking placein smaller parts of the Southern Ocean, and can be farapart in time and place. This is why there is considerable
uncertainty on the exact stock size of krill stocks.
Nevertheless, broader surveys took place in 2000 andagain in 2018/19 on the basis of which biomass in Area 48(where krill fishing takes place) could be estimated.
In 2000, the scientific committee in CCAMLR estimatedthe unexploited biomass of krill to be 60.3 million tonnes
and considered it safe to set a precautionary catch levelof 5.6 million tonnes, representing 9% of overall biomass.
In practice, an even more precautionary catch limit of
620,000 tonnes has been used to manage the fishery.
This level was based on the highest catch recorded in the
1980s, and in the last decades harvests of krill have nevercome close to the limit. During the 2019 survey, the total
biomass of krill was estimated at 62.6 million tonnes,
demonstrating that stocks remain in good health and theimpact of the fishery is low.
Aker Biomarine has taken significant steps to protect
other species living in the Antarctic Southern Ocean.
This includes 100% observer coverage and the use ofa bespoke “Eco-Harvesting” method which has a finemesh, monitored by underwater cameras, to prevent
anything larger than krill being caught. Recent researchshows that these fisheries are very selective, and bycatchof juveniles of other species is around 0.2% of the total
catch. The impacts of this bycatch on the biomass ofother species are deemed low by scientific experts.
Recently Aker BioMarine further committed to voluntarily
avoid fishing in certain areas close to land with breeding
penguin colonies.

Credit: Omega Protein Corporation

The Atlantic menhaden fishery operates along the East
coast of the USA and was first certified in 2019. Atlantic
menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) are small, oily fish whichappear in estuaries and coastal waters from Nova Scotia
to northern Florida. While not traditionally eaten directly,
menhaden are used in fishmeal and fish oil for human andanimal nutrition, due to their high natural concentration ofhealthy omega-3 fatty acids.
The Atlantic menhaden fishery has two sectors: a
reduction fishery which harvests fish to produce fishmeal
and fish oil (80% of catch, MSC certified) and a bait
fishery (20% of catch, uncertified) which has been
growing since 1985 to supply regional lobster and otherpot fisheries. The certified component is harvested by
Omega Protein. The company is also a member of the MSC
certified Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery (Brevoortia
patronus), which was certified in 2019.

Ensuring healthy stocks
Catch is harvested using purse seines with schools ofmenhaden located by overhead spotter planes. According
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
menhaden is one of the most selective and effective
fisheries with minimal bycatch24.
Sustainable levels of fishing were demonstrated in a
recent stock assessment model which estimated that thecurrent stock of Atlantic menhaden is one of the mostabundant on record. Total fishing mortality is much lower
than historical levels, much lower than the management
reference points, and much lower than the rate of natural
mortality. The fishery removes a very small portion of theavailable population, leaving an abundance of menhaden
available for predators higher up the food chain.
To meet the MSC’s specific requirements for key LTL
species, the fishery managers approved ecologicalreference points and set a new total allowable catch thisyear. This was to explicitly account for the important roleof menhaden in the wider ecosystem.

Certified supplier of fishmeal to aquaculture
The majority (80%) of the catch is manufactured into
fishmeal and oil and ultimately ends up in the diets ofcompanion animal and aquaculture feed. Supplying MSC
certified fishmeal and oil is becoming a standard foraquaculture producers seeking ASC certification.
“The menhaden fishery has continuously operated sincethe 1870s and the population of menhaden remains
robust and abundant. This certification demonstrates
the sustainability of our fishery and will differentiate ourfishmeal and oil products from competitors on the
global market” said Omega Protein President and CEO
Bret Scholtes.

20

MSC Briefing Small pelagic fisheriescase study

references

SONORA SMALL PELAGICS FISHERY

1 . Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (2020) The State ofWorld Fisheries and Aquaculture -2020

Target species: Pacific thread herring (Opisthonema libertate) and Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax)
Gear type: purse seine | Tonnage: 124,490 (2016) | First certified: 2011

http://www.fao.org/publications/sofia/2020/en/.

2. Isaacs, Moenieba (2020) The Humble
Sardine (Small Pelagics): Fish as Food or
Fodder. Agriculture & Food Security 5, 1:
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About 85% of the fishery’s total production is used for
reduction to fish meal. Sardines are also packed in cansfor sale into domestic and international markets.

Stakeholder collaboration key to success
During the initial certification, Comunidad y Biodiversidad(COBI) AC, a Mexican marine conservation organisation,raised an objection on behalf of several non-governmentalorganisations and scientists from the region.
After a series of consultations between the certification
body, stakeholders and the fishery, the parties came toagreement about the necessary steps and amendments
required to modify the fishery action plan in a way thatwould satisfy all involved.
The revisions included a commitment from the fisheryto allow the objectors to participate in the work to fulfil
fishery improvements required as part of the certification.

What began with an objection has turned into positive andongoing collaboration between two previously conflicting
groups.

11. Cheung, W. et al. (2010) Large-scale
redistribution of maximum fisheries
catch potential in the global ocean underclimate change. Glob. Change Biol. 16,
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site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/
SROCC_FullReport_FINAL.pdf.

https://www.sustainablefish.org/
Publications

After almost a decade, the fishery continues to collaborateclosely with COBI to improve monitoring and address
issues around bycatch and interactions with ETP species
such as the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), whichis threatened in Mexico. Improvements to date haveincluded the installation of bycatch mitigation devices
such as pressurised hoses which scare birds away fromthe nets using water sprays, as well as modifications
to prevent birds becoming entangled in net cables.
Additional improvements include the collection of fisheryindependent information to improve the accuracy of thestock assessment, factoring in the ecological role of thestock, a long-term requirement of all MSC certified key LTL
fisheries.

https://oec.world/en/profile/hs92/
fish-oil

5. Globescan (2020) MSC Consumer
Insights 2020: World Oceans Day https://

6. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership(2019) Reduction Fisheries: SFP Fisheries
Sustainability Overview 2019 https://

It also included a more rigorous design of the monitoring
and reporting system, as well as higher coverage of thefishing fleet with on-board observers to improve therecordings of bycatch and interactions with endangered,threatened and protected species (ETP) and how to reducethem.

10. The Observatory of Economic
Complexity (2020) “Fish Oil (HS: 1504)
Product Trade, Exporters and Importers”

18. Bellchambers, L.M. et al. (2016)
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world/en/profile/hs92/flour-or-mealpellet-fish-etc-for-animal-feed

2486.2009.01995.x

bit.ly/2VY1Vsj

The Gulf of California small pelagic fishery is Mexico’s
largest fishery by volume. Its 46 vessels use purse seine
nets to catch sardine (a key LTL species) and thread
herring in large shoals. Fishing trips usually last 1-2 days
and are often guided by aerial surveys and satellite data
to locate the schools of fish. All catch for this fleet islanded in the ports of Guaymas and Yavaros in the state ofSonora.

17. Hobday, A.J. et al. (2015) Reconcilingconflicts in pelagic fisheries under climatechange. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical
Studies in Oceanography. 113, 291–300.

4. Izquierdo-Peña, Vanessa et al. (2020)
Is There a Future in the Sustainability
Certification of Sardine and Anchovy
Fisheries? Fisheries https://doi.

org/10.1002/fsh.10461

Credit: Productos Pesqueros de Guaymas SA de CV

9. The Observatory of Economic Complexity(2020) “Flour or meal, pellet, fish, etc, foranimal feed (HS: 230120) Product Trade,
Exporters and Importers” https://oec.

7. IFFO (2020) The status of forage fishhttps://www.iffo.com/status-foragefish
8. FAO (2020) Global landings expected
to grow by 4 percent in 2020 | GLOBEFISH

http://www.fao.org/in-action/
globefish/market-reports/resourcedetail/en/c/1296668/

12. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (2019) “IPCC Special Report on
the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing
Climate,” 2019. https://www.ipcc.ch/

13. MSC (2019) MSC certificatessuspended for all North Atlantic mackerel
fisheries https://www.msc.org/media-

centre/press-releases/press-release/msc-certificates-suspended-for-allnorth-east-atlantic-mackerel-fisheries

14. Certification and Ratings
Collaboration (2019) Sustainable
Seafood: A Global Benchmark.

https://certificationandratings.
org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/
Sustainable_Seafood_A_Global_
Benchmark.pdf
15. IFFO (2020) The Marine Ingredients
Organisation www.iffo.com
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science.1209395

fishres.2016.03.006

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org/500.html?aspxerrorpath=/
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20. Aquaculture Stewardship Council(2020) https://www.asc-aqua.org/

news/latest-news/ascs-feed-standardanother-step-closer-to-completion/

21. MSC (2019) Making Waves: Small-scale
fisheries achieving sustainability with
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default-source/default-documentlibrary/what-we-are-doing/msc-smallscale-fisheries-report-2019.pdf

22. Pérez-Ramírez, M. et al. (2012)
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content/uploads/2020/07/forage_
atlantic_menhaden.pdf

25. Fisheries and aquaculture software.
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http://www.fao.org/fishery

Find out more

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info@msc.org@MSCecolabel/MSCecolabel/marine-stewardship-council© Marine Stewardship Council 2021