The MSC
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent charity seeking to find solutions to the global problem of overfishing. We have set an environmental standard to measure and reward sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
Fisheries that pass the rigorous assessment process are certified as meeting the MSC’s environmental standard. The MSC eco-label (shown above) can only be displayed on products that use fish from certified fisheries. This gives consumers a simple way to identify sustainable seafood in supermarkets, on restaurant menus and in school canteens.
Visit the where to buy section for a full list of MSC-labelled products and stockists.
So, what’s the problem?
The problem is that fish are running out. Overfishing is a huge threat to the marine environment. Fish are the last wild, potentially renewable, source of food that is harvested on a widescale. We have to ensure that this valuable resource is not overexploited because the livelihoods of millions of people round the world depend on this vital, nutritious food resource.
Fishing can be a wasteful industry. A staggering 8% of everything caught in the oceans is thrown back into the water, dead or dying. Each year this bycatch is over 7.3 million tonnes. That’s more than six times the total amount of fish eaten in the UK in one year.
Here are some current facts and figures about the fishing industry, which you may find useful to help you with a lesson plan or school assembly.
