The South African hake trawl fishery is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world’s leading certification and eco-labelling program for sustainable wild-caught seafood.
The fishery was first certified in 2004 and in 2019 it entered a fourth re-certification process. During re-certification, every aspect of the fishery is assessed against the MSC Standard which has three core principles:
The South African trawl fishery for hake is the only fishery in Africa to have achieved accreditation from the MSC. It is one of 361 fisheries in 41 countries that have been certified by the MSC. Together, MSC-certified fisheries currently catch about 11.8 million tons of seafood annually – about 15% of the global harvest from wild capture fisheries, with a total value of approximately USD 10 billion (R180 billion).
MSC assessment of the South African trawl fishery (2015)
MSC assessment of the South African trawl fishery (2009)
About the Marine Stewardship Council
The MSC was established in 1997 by Unilever – at the time the world’s largest buyer of seafood – and the conservation organisation, WWF, in response to concerns about the global state of commercial fisheries.
Since then, the MSC has developed into an independent global organisation that works with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the general public to promote sustainable fishing.
The MSC maintains a system of ecolabelling which is a tool for promoting the sustainability of fish resources by letting a buyer know their fish has been caught with the least possible harm to the natural environment.