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|  | An assessment of marine stewardship council certification in the Pacific : case studies of the parties to the Nauru agreement and Fiji tuna boat owners association
Author:Sahib, Maria Rizwana
Institution: University of the South Pacific.
Award: M.A.
Subject: Fishery management, International -- Oceania, Fishery management, International -- Nauru, Fishery management -- Oceania
Date: 2015
Call No.: Pac SH 328 .S24 2015
BRN: 1204097
Copyright:10-20% of this thesis may be copied without the authors written permission
Abstract: This study is focused on the assessment of the MSC certification in the Pacific from the experience of the two case studies from the region, namely the PNA and the FTBOA. The key findings from both the case studies suggest that the certification is a viable option for tuna fishery of the PICs. The study shows that MSC certification improves tuna resource management because PICs are required to adhere to higher environmental standards under the MSC programme. For example, environmental reforms, reference points and harvest control rules and proper documentation under the MSC are necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the MSC. There are two types of immediate benefits – environmental and market. Environmental benefits can be recognized immediately during the assessment but also contribute towards long term sustainability as the fishery strives to improve both operations and management while economic benefit could be received through price premium. Since eco-labelling certification schemes are voluntary, mutual benefits realised through MSC are variable. Some fisheries obtain market benefits as soon as they enter full assessment (as in the case of PNA) and others do not make use of the eco-label for marketing but instead seek certification primarily for the environmental recognition (as in the case of FTBOA). Due to the complexity of the management of tuna as a highly migratory resource, certification of tuna should be seen as one of the options to achieve sustainability of tuna stocks and not the only option. This study argues that certification as a market based management tool has the potential to positively contribute towards sustainable utilisation of the tuna resource.
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