Ecolabelling in fisheries: Boon or bane in improving trade ?

This document is a collation of information, mainly from FAO documents on fisheries ecolabelling (FAO, 2001; Sainsbury, 2010; Washington and Ababouch, 2011). Fish is one of the most highly traded commodities in the world, and as a natural resource, there is worldwide concern about long-term sustainability of the resources. Ecolabels are a new and growing feature of international fish trade and marketing. They have emerged in the context of increased demand for fish and seafood, and a perception that many governments are failing to manage the sustainability of marine resources adequately. Many mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks have been introduced by international bodies which are binding on national governments