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ToMr.RupertHowes,ChiefExecutiveDr.WernerKiene,ChairoftheBoardMarineStewardshipCouncilMarineHouse1SnowHillLondonEC1A2DHDATE
April5th,2019 OPENLETTER
DearDr.Kiene,DearMr.Howes,DearMSCTrustees,
ThisisanopenlettercallingtheMSCforactionandwerespectfullyaskyoutosharethisletterwithallofyourboardmembersandtheSTAC.
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Thankyouforyourletterdated26October2018.AsProf.Dr.MichelKaiser,whowrotethisletter,isnolongerwiththeMSC,weareaddressingourresponsetoyouinstead.
Pleaseexcusethatthisresponsetooklongerthanexpected,butwewerehopingtoseesomeproactiveandconstructiveprogressfromMSCtoresolvethisterribleissue.Unfortunatelynothinghashappenedsofarotherthanthestartofapublicconsultationonsharkfinningofwhichtheproposedoptionshaveunfortunatelynotbeensharedwiththesignatoriesofthisletterupfront,sothatwecouldhaveprovidedourexpert&stakeholderinputforthedescriptionoftheseproposals.
Wehavehoweversharedanddiscussedyourresponsewiththesignatoriesoftheletterfromlastyearandwouldliketosharetheoutcomeofthesediscussionswithyoutoday.Inadditionwealsohopetodrawyourattentiontosomefurtherresearchwehavedoneinthemeantime,whichshows,thattheissueofsharkfinningisbyfarnotlimitedtothePNAfishery,whichwehadusedasanexampleinourpreviousletter.
1. ExecutiveSummary
TheMSCclaimstobecommittedtoensuringthatsharkfinningdoesnottakeplaceinanyfisheriesthatarecertifiedassustainable,viaaclear,easilyappliedpolicy.However,evidenceshowsthattheCABsarefailingtoproperlyapplytheMSCstandardasregardssharkfinning.Inordertorectifythissituation,theMSCcertificationshouldberevisedtorequirethata“finsnaturallyattached”policybeinplaceandcompliedwithinorderforafisherytoreceiveascoreofSG60.ItisalsoimperativethatMSCrequirestheCABstoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple.CABshaverepeatedlymadedeterminationsonthelikelihoodoftheexistenceoffinningdespitenotingalackofdataavailability.Iffinning,bycatch,andcompliancedataareunavailableorinsufficient,CABsshouldbeprohibitedfromcertifyingthefisherywithrespecttosharkfinning.Finally,MSCmustensurethattheCABsarecorrectlyapplyingMSCsharkfinningscorestandards.Innumerouscertifiedfisheriesoverthepastdecade,CABshavedeterminedthatitis‘unlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace’despiteevidenceoffinningandnoevidenceofsanctionsbeingimposedrelatedtosuchfinning.CABsshouldonlybepermittedtocertifyafisheryifthedataconclusivelyshowtheresultneeded(i.e.,SG60ifthedataconclusivelyshowthatitisunlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace).
2. YourResponsetoourLetter
Weappreciateyourresponsetoourletter,howeverwewouldliketocorrectsomefactualmisperceptionandincompletefactsthatwerepresented.
2.1. Reducingtheincidenceofsharkfinning
WenoticethatyourresponsereferringtothenewspaperreportsandsimilartotheevidencesubmittedbyMrHowes/theMSCfollowingtheEAChearingiswhollyinadequateforthefollowingreasons:
§ Thereareonly4/5incidentsreportedintotal.§ ThreeoftheincidentsreportedarefromJuly2012.TheMSCbandidnotcomeintoeffectuntil
2013.Ofthethreereported,onlytwosanctionswereimposedandonecasewasstillongoing.§ Thetwonewsreportsfrom2013relatetolong-liners,whicharenotpartoftheMSCcertified
fishery.§ Thenewsreportsfrom2012statethatthesanctionappliedwasafine.WhilsttheMarshall
IslandsFisherieslawprovidesafinelevelthatcanbeappliedfrom$25,000to$200,000plusanamountequivalenttothevalueofsharkfinsconfiscated,thetwovesselsreportedlyfinedhad
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beenfinedmerely$55,000.Therefore,notonlywasthefineatthebottomendofthescalebuttheleveloffineisadropintheoceanformostfisheries.
§ Onlyonereporttalksofaban,andthat,asaforesaidrelatedtoalong-linervesselthatisnotpartofthecertifiedfishery.
§ AllofthereportsrelatetosanctionsreportedtohavebeenimposedintheMarshallIslands,yetthePNAisformedof8countries.
§ TheMSChasbeenunabletoprovideanyevidencethatavesselinthePNAFAD-FreefisheryhasbeenappropriatelysanctionedsincetheimpositionoftheMSCban.Indeed,noevidenceofanysanctionsbeingimposedintheperiodfromApril10,2013tothedateofsubmissionhasbeenprovided,aperiodofover5andahalfyears,or,5yearsifyoutakethedateoftherecertificationofthePNA.
Therefore:
§ 429incidentsoffinninginthePNAbetween2012-2015.§ 5newspaperreports.§ 3frombeforetheMSCbanhadcomeintoeffect.§ 2relatingtoirrelevantlong-liners.§ 426casesforwhichtheMSChasnotprovidedanyevidence,thatvesselshavebeen
appropriatelysanctionedinthePNAintheperiod2012-2015.Thatis99.3%ofcases.
YourreferencetothedownwardtrendoffinninginWCPFCtechnicalandcompliancecommitteereportWCPFC-TCC14-2018-RP02with1019,332,130and22reportedincidencesbetween2014and2017showsindeedaverymuchappreciatedoveralldeclineoffinningintheregion.Whileweagreethat“themeasuresinCMM2013-08[have]beenthecatalyst”forthisencouragingdecline,thosenumbersshouldstillbeevaluatedwithcaution,especiallythefigurefor2017,asthisfigure“onlyrepresentsapprox.50%ofdatacollectedin2017”.FurthermoreitshouldbenotedthatWCPFC-TCC13-2017-RP02actuallyhadreportedonly994,190,and97casesoffinningfor2014,2015,and2016,whichobviouslyhadtobecorrectedtohighervaluesinthe2018reportfortheyears2014and2015,asmoredatahadbecomeavailable.
WehavealsonoticedthatthesurveillanceauditofthePNAfisheryhasbeenscheduledfortheweekcommencing1stApril2019,andinlightofourconcernsaboutongoingsharkfinningandthelackofprosecutionsinthisfishery,wewillbekeepingacloseeyeonproceedingsfromthissurveillanceaudit.
2.2. LackofTransparency
WewereverydisappointedtobeingreferredbacktotheCABforactualevidenceofotherprosecutionsandtheoutcomeofthese,whenthesameCABhadalreadyfailedtoprovidesuchevidenceduringtheassessmentandobjectionprocess.AsastandardsettertheMSCitselfshouldproactivelyinvestigateandupholditsstandardwhenbeingmadeawareofsuchenormousdiscrepanciesbetweenthereportedandprosecutedcasesofviolationsofthebaninacertifiedfishery.
2.3. MovingForward
YoursuggestionthatMSCmightpossiblyconsiderchangesintheupcomingstandardreviewasto“anyvesselprosecutedforsuch[sharkfinning]wouldbeexcludedfromtheunitofcertification“clearlyfallsshortofstrengtheningtheenforcementofthecurrentfinningbaninlightoftheseshortcomingsinactualprosecutionstohappen.
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Therefore,weremaindeeplyconcernedthatwhiletheMSCcontinuestoinformthepublicthattheabhorrentpracticeofsharkfinningisbanned,itcontinuestotakeplaceincertifiedfisheriesand,inviewofyourannouncementoftheupcomingpublicconsultationonsharkfinning,wewishtosummariseanumberofoutstandingissuesforyoururgentconsideration.
§ Asaminimumwewouldhaveexpectedtoseea“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”tobeimplementedasamandatoryrequirementforallfisheriesinteractingwithsharks.While“finsnaturallyattached”arealreadymandatoryinEUsince2013andothercountries,theWCPFC,initsWCPFC-TCC14-2018-22,5thDraft,2018,proposestoimplementthepolicyinorder“toevaluateandassesscompliance,asithasnotbeenabletoassesscompliancewiththe5%finstocarcassratiocurrentlyincludedinCMM2010-07”.
§ MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognises“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChasnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60or“likely“toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.
§ Theintroductionofa“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”forlandingsofsharksandsharkproductswasalsorequestedinourOctober2018letterandhasbeenproposedbyotherstakeholders,too.Itstatesthegloballyrecognisedbestpracticetoverifyandensurefinningisnottakingplace.
§ Thisshouldhavebeenconsideredasaproposalforthecurrentconsultation.
3. FurtherResearchUndertaken
Thepolicy
TheMSC’spolicyonsharkfinningisveryclearinstating,that“…theCABshouldnotcertifyormaintainthecertificationofafisherywhenthereisobjectiveverifiableevidencethatindicatessharkfinningistakingplace.”CABsassessingfisheriesmustawardascoreofSG60whereitislikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace,SG80whereitishighlylikelynottakingplace,andSG100wherethereisahighdegreeofcertaintyfinningisnottakingplace.WheretheCABknowsfinningistakingplace,thefisherymustreceiveafailscoreonthisindicator.
Thepolicyinpractice
Despitetheclarityofthispolicy,itsapplicationhasbeensubjecttointerpretation,notablyfromtheMSC‘InterpretationLog’.
Forexample,thisLogstatesthat“Ifonlyoneortwocaseshavebeenreported,forexample,andthevessel/sinvolvedhavebeenappropriatelysanctioned,thentheteammaystillconcludethatitislikelyorhighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceinanysignificantway”.Thisinterpretationisnotconsistentwiththepracticebeingbanned.
SharkfinninginMSC-certifiedtunafisheries
EvenmoreconcerningisthatthereappearstobeamuchwidertoleranceofsharkfinningtohappeninMSCcertifiedfisheriesbeyondtheexampleofthePNAfishery.Sofarwehavereviewedthisfisheryasthemostprominentexample,however,afteramoreintensivereviewofothercertificationreportsthisappearstobefarfrombeingaoneoffincidence.
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Wehavereviewedtheassessmentreportsforanumberofcertifiedtunafisheriesandconsideredwhetherthisinterpretationisbeingappliedinthewayconsumerswouldreasonablyexpect–pleaseseetablebelow.
Wenotethatthisreviewhasn’tevenincludedanyfisheriesthatdirectlytargetsharksoranyotherfisheriesoutsidetuna,someofthesefisherieshaveevenlargerbycatchofsharks,suchase.g.long-linerstargetingswordfish.
Havingdoneso,wehavethreeconcerns:
1. ThepracticalapplicationofMSC’spolicyonsharkfinninginpractice;2. Theapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproachtotheassessmentoffisherieswhereshark
finningistakingplace;3. Thelackofconsistencyandtheimpactonconsumers.
Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
PNAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfin
§ Certifiedsince2011§ Re-certifiedin2018
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/pna-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-unassociated-non-fad-set-tuna-purse-seine/@@assessments
§ Atleast429instancesofsharkfinningduringperiodconsideredbytheCAB(2012-2015).
§ EvidencerecentlysubmittedbyMSCtoUKParliament’sEnvironmentalAuditCommitteedidnotdemonstratethatthevessel/sinvolvedhadbeenappropriatelysanctioned.Evidencesharedcoveredjust4/5incidents,ofwhich3pre-datethebancomingintoeffectand2relatetolong-linersnotpartoftheMSCfishery.
§ Despite429incidencesoffinningandanabsenceofappropriatesanctions,ascoreof80wasassignedonthisSIandthePNArecertifiedin2018.
§ NomorerecentdatahavebeenprovidedalthoughobserverdatafromtheRFMOhavebeenpublished…
Tri-MarineWesternandCentralPacificSkipjackandYellowfinTunafishery
§ Certifiedsince2016
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/tri-marine-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-tuna/@@assessments
§ Acknowledgedinassessmentreportthat21instancesofsharkfinningoccurred2010-2013.
§ TheCABSCSnotedthatfinningwasa“rareevent”butalsoacknowledgedconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC102014)“aboutthelevelofreporting,theambiguityofthefin-to-carcassratiomethodformonitoringcompliance,thesubsequentinabilityoftheWCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasure,andthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnon-compliance.TherequirementsoftheSG80levelarethereforenotconsideredtobemet”.
§ DespiteSCCnoting“thereisnotyetevidencethattherareexamples[ofsharkfinning]arefollowedbyappropriatesanctions…”,theyscoredtherelevantSIat75.
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Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
§ Aconditionwasplacedrequestingthat‘bythefourthsurveillanceauditdemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceorthat,ifrarecasesarereported,thatmeasuresaretakentoaddresstheissue.”
WPSTAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfinfreeschoolpurseseine
§ Certifiedin2018
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/wpsta-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-free-school-purse-seine/@@assessments
§ SCSconfirmedfortheChineseUoCthatthey“werenotprovidedwithdatafromtheobserverdatabasesonthenumberofsharkfinningeventsrecordedfortherelevantvessels…ourscoresinsteadreflectthelowlevelsofsharkfinningthathavebeenrecordedonotherWPFCpurseseinevessels.”
§ Regardingsanctions,SCSnoted“OurassessmentalsoreflectsthegeneralconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC2014)about…thesubsequentinabilityoftheSCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasureandthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnoncompliance.”
§ Despitethisacceptancethattherewere“lowlevelsoffinning”,andalackofanyclearsanctionsimposed,itwasstillscoredat75.
§ TheCABwassatisfiedbyplacingconditionsthatforChina/ChineseTaipeibythethird/secondsurveillanceauditthefisheryhasto“provideevidencethatissufficienttodemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace”
TheNorth-EasternTropicalPurseSeineyellowfinandskipjacktunafishery
§ Certifiedin2017
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/northeastern-tropical-pacific-purse-seine-yellowfin-and-skipjack-tuna-fishery/@@assessments
§ TheCABconfirmedsharkfinningwastakingplace–thenumberofinstanceswassmall.
§ Regardingsanctions,theCABstatedthatCONAPESCAprovidedevidenceofacaseofsharkfinningbyavesselandthevesselwasfoundguilty.
§ However,thatvesselwasnotfromtheUoAanditwasstatedthecasewassubjecttoappealandongoing(CONAPESCA,2015b).
§ “TherearenorecentdatafromtheComplianceCommittee,however,onthelevelofcompliancewithC-05-03andnoinformationthroughtheIRPonsanctionsforanynon-compliance.Wethereforedonotconsiderittobehighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”TheCABrecordedascoreof70.
§ TheCABplacedaconditionforSilkysharksandoceanicwhitetips,requestingthat“bythefourthannualsurveillance,provideevidencethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”
SZLCCSFC&FZLCFSMEEZLonglineYellowfinand
§ TheUoAispredominantlymadeupbyChineseandTaiwanesevessels
§ Withonly57trainedobserversavailableforboththelong-line
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Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban
BigeyeTuna
§ Certifiedin2019
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/szlc-csfc-fzlc-fsm-eez-longline-yellowfin-and-bigeye-tuna/@@assessments
andpurseseinefleet)noobservershavebeenplacedonnon-FSMflaggedlong-lineboatsinrecentyears.Forthisassessment,NORMAprovidedobserverdatafor2015and2016,correspondingto3and6tripsforthoseyearsrespectively.
§ “AtnationalFSMlevel,allelasmobranchs(sharksandrays)areprotectedunderSection913ofitsFSMCodeTitle24.Theregulationdoesnotbanthelandingofsharks,butstipulatesthatallsharkscaughtalivemustbereleasedandthatanysharkdeaduponhaulingmaybelandedwithitsfinsnaturallyattached.Atstatelevel(Chuuk,Pohnpei,KosraeandYaap),sharksanctuariesareinplaceandsharksareonlyallowedtobetargetedfortraditionaluse”.However,thisdoesnotaffecttheUoAasthisfisherytakesplaceoutsidethe24nmlimit!
§ “Sincetheregulationswereadoptedin2015,NORMAreportsagoodlevelofcompliancebyalllong-linefleets,includingtheUoA.Oneside-effect,however,hasbeenthatsharksthatwerepreviouslyretainedandthereforereportedinlogbookdata,arenowmorefrequentlycutoffatthelinewhichhaslikelyresultedinunder-reporting”.
§ “Thismeansthattheobserverdataarenowtheonlyreliablesourceoninteractionswithsharksinthisfishery.Whiletheteamagreedthattheavailableobserverdataprovidessomeobjectivebasisforconfidencethatthestrategywillwork(SG80ismet),theevidencebasewaslackingtoprovidehighconfidence.SG100isnotmet”.
§ Dataavailability:“Forthisassessment,logbookdatafor2015and2016wereobtainedfortheentireUoA,assummarisedinTable10.Thereasonwhyonlytwoyears’dataarepresentedinthereportisrelatedtotheimplementationofthesharkregulationsatthestartof2015.Inadditiontoabanonsharkfinning,long-linevesselswerenolongerpermittedtotargetorlandsharksasaresultoftheseregulations.Onlysharksthatweredeaduponhaulingarenowpermittedtobelanded,withfinsnaturallyattached.”
§ “Theteamthereforedeterminedthatlogbookandobserverdatapriorto2015werenotrepresentativeofthecurrentUoA”.
§ Sharkfinningwasconsideredas“notrelevantasthetargetspeciesisnotashark”and“sharksareallprotectedinFSMandarethereforeconsideredunderETPspecies“
§ Thereforenotscoringisavailableandnoconditionhasbeenplacedonsharkfinningdespitethelowobserverlevel(andliterallynoobserversontheChineseandTaiwanesevessels!
Inourview,eachoftheabovefisheriesfailed/failstomeettherequiredcompliancewiththestandard.
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Failuretoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple
TheMSC,followingtheFAOInternationalCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheries(1995)andtheUNFishStocksAgreement(1995),statesitsintentionfortheprecautionaryapproachtobeappliedthroughcertificationrequirements.
Again,whilethispolicyisclear,itsapplicationwithregardstosharkfinninginthefisheriesashighlightedaboveisanythingbut.
§ Forexample,aunitbeingscoredat75despitenodatabeingprovidedonthenumberofsharkfinningevents,andalackofclearsanctionsonthefewreportedcasesofnon-compliance,doesnotappeartobeanevidentapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproach.
§ Anditalsoappearsincompatiblewithanprecautionaryapproach,thatafisheryoperatingwithTaiwaneseandChinesevesselsgetscertifiedsettingonlyaconditionthatthefisheryhastodemonstratewithinatimeframeof2-3yearsthatsharkfinningismostlikelynothappening.AlthoughthereispublicknowledgeasrecentlypublishedbyEJFhttps://ejfoundation.org/search/results?searchbar=shark+finning,thatespeciallyTaiwanesevesselsarestilloftenengaginginsharkfinning,andthatneitherChinanorTaiwanarestrictlyenforcingthebanonsharkfinning.
§ Orsharkfinningisnotscoredatallwithreferenceto“sharkfinningisbannedandsharksmustnotberetained”,asthesolejustificationfornotscoring.YetatthesametimetheCABacknowledgesthatonlylittleobserverdataandliterallynoobserverforthepredominantlyChineseorTaiwanesevesselsinthefisheryareavailabletoverifythenumbersandthefateofanestimated1600silkysharkscaughtbythisfisheryperyear.
Lackofconsistency
Theexampleshighlightedabovealsodemonstrateaclearlackofconsistencyinscoring.Forexample,thePNAfishery,wheretherewereatleast429incidentsofsharkfinning,wasawardedascoreof80(i.e.highlylikelythatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).Meanwhile,theTri-Marinefishery,wheretherewere21reportedincidentsofsharkfinning,receivedascoreof75(‘likely’thatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).
Consequently,thereisnotonlyadiscrepancybetweenconsumersbeingtoldsharkfinningisbannedanditscontinuedincidentincertifiedfisheries,butalsosignificantdiscrepanciesinthewayinwhichtheMSC’ssharkfinningpolicyisapplied.Thesemakeitdifficultforaconsumertounderstand,andhaveconfidencein,thatpolicy.
Conclusion
Toconclude,MSC’sstatedpolicyonsharkfinningappearstobeclear,easytoapplyandprovidingcertaintytoconsumers.ThispolicyisalteredbytheInterpretationLog’sstatementthatafisheryshouldnotfailforsharkfinningifthe“oneortwo”incidentshavebeenappropriatelydealtwithandthevesselssanctioned.IfthatwerehowMSCpolicywasapplied,thenitdoesnotseematoddswithastatementthatthepracticeisbanned.
However,inreality,theaboveexamplesdemonstratethatCABshaveconcludeditis“likelyorhighlylikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace”evenincaseswherethereislittleornodata,littleornoevidenceofsanctions,orthefactof429confirmedincidents.Alsoapplyingaprecautionaryapproachcertificationoffisheriesthatareathighriskofbeinginvolvedinsharkfinning,suchasfisherieswithChineseorTaiwanesevessels,shouldrequireamuch
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higherscrutinyduringassessmentandcertificationtoidentifywhethersharkfinningcanberealisticallyassumedas“likely”or“highlylikely”nottohappen.Settingaconditionbywhichthefisheryhastoprovidesuchproofwithinatimeframeof2-3yearsaftercertificationisfarfromtakingaprecautionaryapproach.
§ Sharkfinningshouldprecludeafisheryupfrontfromenteringthecertificationprocess.Beforecertification,fisheriesthathaveahighriskofinteractingwithsharks,aseithertargetingsharksorhavinghighsharkbycatchinsecondaryspeciesorinETPspecies,shallhaveinplacea‘finsnaturallyattachedpolicy’andCABsmustverifypriortocertificationthatthepolicyisinplaceandcompliedwith.MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognisesonpage36“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChassofarnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60,toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.
§ AvailabilityofadequateexternalverificationforbycatchdataandcompliancewiththebanonsharkfinningisessentialtojustifythescoringoftheCAB.Whileboth,representativehumanobservercoverageorelectronicsurveillancemeasuresmaybeadequatemeasures,theextentofcoveragemustbeconsistentthroughoutfisherieswithsimilarrisksandnolongeratthediscretionoftheCABtodecide,whichextenttoconsideradequate.
§ TheongoingmisapplicationoftheFCRmustnotbeallowedtocontinue.MSCmuststrictlyenforcethetermsoftheFCRonlyallowing1or2incidentswherethereisclear,unequivocalpubliclyavailableevidencethatthevesselshavebeenappropriatelysanctioned.WhereCABshavenotadoptedsuchastance,MSCmustintervene.Ifthecurrentrulesdonotallowthis,theyshouldberevisedassoonaspossible.
We,asagroupofleadingconservationorganisations,smallnon-profitsdedicatedtosharkconservationandtheeradicationofsharkfinning,ethicalretailers,andresponsibleseafoodsuppliers,arekeentoworkwithyouinfindingsolutionssothatthescourgeofsharkfinningispermanentlyeliminatedfromallMSC-certifiedfisheries.TheMSCcanplayanimportantleadershiprolebyensuringthatyourboarddecisiononsharkfinningisfullyimplementedandthatyourorganisationisseentochampionanotoleranceapproachwithrespecttothisabhorrentpractice.
Wehopethatyouwillseethisletterasaconstructiveengagement,settingoutstepsthatyoucantaketoprotectsharksfromfinninginexistingandfutureMSC-certifiedfisheries.Bydoingthisyouwillalsobefulfillingyourdutytoprotectconsumersfrombuyingfishthathasbeenassociatedwiththiswantonandhighlydestructivepractice,whiletheyactuallybelievethattheyarehelpingtoprotectendangeredspeciesandthebiodiversityofouroceans,throughtheir“sustainable”choices.
WearesureyouagreethattheMSClabelshouldneverbeassociatedwiththisabhorrentpractice.
Yourssincerely,
TimThomasPresidentAmericanAlbacoreFishingAssociationNatalieWebsterOperationsDirectorAmericanTuna
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SusanMillwardDirectorMarineAnimalProgramAnimalWelfareInstituteJoséTrudaPalazzo,Jr.Vice-PresidentTheAugustoCarneiroInstituteDr.FrédéricLeManachScientificDirectorBloomKatrienVandevelde&JanWoutersFoundersBlueSharkConservation
Dr.MarkJonesHeadofPolicyBornFreeFoundationIsabelNaranjoPresidentCREMA(CentroRescateEspeciesMarinasAmenazadas)AlejandraGoyenecheaSeniorInternationalCounselDefendersofWildlifeSiphokaziNdudaneDeputyDirectorGeneralDepartmentofAgricultureForestryandFisheriesRepublicofSouthAfricaUlrikeKirschFoundationBoardMemberDeutscheStiftungMeeresschutzPauloGuilhermeAlvesCavalcantiCo-FounderDiversforSharksShannonArnoldMarinePolicyCoordinatorEcologyActionCentreFelipeVallejoExecutiveDirectorEquilibrioAzul
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PhillipeCurySeniorScientistandScientificCoodinatorofEUROMARINEInstitutdeRecherchepourleDéveloppementBilloHeinzpeterStuderPresidentFairFishInternationalAssociationRandallArauzMarineConservationPolicyConsultantFinsAttachedMarineResearchandConservation
ValeskaDiemel,DirectorFishAct
SandraBessudoLionFundadora/DirectoraEjecutivaFundaciónMalpeloyOtrosEcosistemasMarinosUlrichKarlowskiBoardMemberGesellschaftzurRettungderDelphineVeerleRoelandtPresidentTheGlobalSharkConservationInitiativeOliverKnowlesSeniorAdvisorOceansCampaignGreenpeaceInternationalAndrewLurie,SeniorAttorney,InternationalLaw&TradeHumaneSocietyInternationalDavidPhillipsDirectorInternationalMarineMammalProjectEarthIslandInstitutePierre-AndréAdam,ICSHeadofScience&ProjectsIslandConservationSocietyFredericBuyleNektosRosarioAlvarezExecutiveDirectorMIGRAMAR
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Dr.CorneliaE.Nauen,VorsitzendeMundusmarisSandraHinniProjektleiterinNachhaltigkeitFischMIGROSNatalieWebsterVicePresidentOperationsOceanHarvestersOperative
JorgeSerenderoCEOFortheOceansFoundationSigridLüberPresidentOceanCareLouiePsihoyosExecutiveDirectorOceanicPreservationSociety
Dr.SandraAltherrFounderProWildlifeJorgeSerendroPresidentSeaShepherdConservationSociety,CostaRicaAndyOttawayFoundingDirectorSealProtectionActionGroup&CampaignWhale
FernandoReisExecutiveDirectorSharksEducationalInstituteFabienneRossierPresidentSharksMissionFranceMarieLevineExecutiveDirectorSharkResearchInstituteSabineFalkBoardSharkSaversGermany
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DavidMcGuireDirectorSharkStewardsStefanieBrendlExecutiveDirector,FounderSharkAllies
HerbertFutterknechtPresidentSharkprojectAustriaFriederikeKremer-ObrockPresidentSharkprojectGermanyAlexSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectInternationalDeniseSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectSwitzerlandJulianEngelSecondChairmanStopFinningTomVierusMarineBiologist,Photographer,Filmmaker,GermanSciencePhotographer2016/2017Prof.RalphO.SchillPresidentScientificCommitteeGermanUnderwaterFederation(VDST)AlexHoffordWildlifeCampaignerWildAidHongKongDrAndrewVenterChiefExecutiveOfficerWildTrustSouthAfrica
JohnBurtonChairmanandChiefExecutiveWorldWiseFoods
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CallumRobertsProfessorofMarineConservation,EnvironmentDepartmentUniversityofYork,UK
DrCatherine(Cat)Dorey,IndependentAdvisoronFishesandFisheries
