FISH SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION SCHEMES: A GLOBAL COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS.

This paper presents the findings of an 18 months global review of organisations providing sustainable fisheries information to consumers and other channel intermediaries completed in December 2009*. The project was managed by a consortium of nine organisations involved with seafood, the Fish Sustainability Information Group (FSIG), from around the world incorporating FAO. The review examined the key organisations that analyse, assess and provide data, guidance, disseminate and otherwise communicate on the sustainability of world fisheries and aquaculture to retailers, foodservice sectors, consumers and others. The methodology engaged through interviews the 17 organisations considered to be representative of those involved in leading seafood sustainability communications, in addition to web-site data gathered from a broader sample. Evaluation of the various respective communications was made regarding accuracy, scientific robustness and relevance. The data analysis presents a hitherto unique scope of comparison of the governance procedures and output of the world’s most significant organisations supplying seafood sustainability information.The paper then considers the implications of this analysis noting the respective merits and demerits of the two key categories identified: certification schemes and recommendation lists. Particular emphasis is placed upon how such instruments might improve in futur