Promoting International Market Access for SADC Fishery Products Through Certification

‘The potential exists to improve the share of the market for sustainable seafood that Southern African countries account for. We believe MSC certification can help those countries to secure that improved market performance.'

Concerns about the state of the environment have encouraged the development of a number of eco-labelling schemes. Eco-labels make it easier for consumers to choose green products, as they show that the product was sourced in ways that avoid detrimental environmental effects. Seafood retailers worldwide are incorporating sustainability standards into their seafood purchasing policy. This project aims to raise incomes of fishing communities in Southern Africa and improve the marine ecosystems of the region through an increase in the number of Southern African fisheries certified to the MSC Standard and benefiting from the increased market opportunities that certification - and the rapidly growing market for sustainable seafood - can offer.