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Abstract

In arecentpaper,FroeseandProelss [1] contendthat31%ofstockstargetedbyMarineStewardship
Council(MSC)certifiedfisheriesareoverfishedandsubjecttoongoingoverfishingandafurther8%are
either overfishedorsubjecttooverfishing.Theirresultsarederivedusingadefinitionof‘overfished’
that isnotconsistentwithinternationallyaccepteddefinitionsandinterpretations.Inaddition,the
authorsusedunrealisticestimatesofbiomassthatproduceMaximumSustainableYields(BMSY)
obtainedthroughmethodsthatareinconsistentwiththeapproachusedbythemanagementagencies
and scientificadvisorybodiesresponsibleforthestocksinquestion.
AnalysessuchasthatpublishedbyFroeseandProelssareanimportantpartoftheexternal,
independentscrutinyoftheprogrammethatMSCwelcomes.Howeverthereareanumberofserious
flaws intheiranalysis,dataandresultingconclusionsthatthisresponseseekstocorrect.Usingdatafor
45 stocksexploitedbyMSCcertifiedfisheries(460% oftotalfisheriesintheprogrammeand 480% of
total certifiedcatch),internationallyacceptedmethodsfordeterminingMSYreferencepoints,and
internationallyaccepteddefinitionsoftheterms‘overfished’and‘overfishing’,nostocksexploitedby
MSC certifiedfisheriescanbedefinedasoverfished(belowtheirlimitreferencepoints).

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Agnew, D J and Gutierrez, N L and Stern-Pirlot, A and Smith, ADM and Zimmerman, C and Sainsbury, K J
Keywords:	Certification Marine Stewardship Council Sustainable stocks
Journal or Publication Title:	Marine Policy: The International Journal of Ocean Affairs
ISSN:	0308-597X
DOI / ID Number:	org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.07.002
Additional Information:	Copyright 2012 Elsevier
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