Swordfish fishery objection proceeds as campaign ‘Spokes-shark’ begins European bike trip to eco-label headquarters

September 27th, 2011-- Hector the Blue Shark has a bone to pick with the world’s leading seafood ecolabel. This fish out of water is headed by bicycle to London, England to confront the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) over a proposed fishery’s eco-certification.

Hector the Blue Shark is the figurehead of a public campaign to improve the credibility of the MSC certification process. ‘Friends of Hector’- including the Ecology Action Centre, David Suzuki Foundation, Oceana and Sea Turtle Conservancy- have objected to MSC’s proposed eco-certification of Nova Scotia’s North West Atlantic Longline Swordfish Fishery.

On September 26th, an Independent Adjudicator for the MSC confirmed that the objection has a ‘reasonable chance of success’ and can proceed. The Assessment Team, Moody Marine Ltd, will have 20 working days to respond to the objection.

The objection outlines numerous assessment errors and details reforms required to reduce the number of threatened and endangered sharks and sea turtles caught as bycatch in this controversial fishery. The Canadian longline swordfish fishery catches approximately 100,000 sharks and 1,400 sea turtles each year while landing 20,000 swordfish, which are sold through retailers in the United States.

The fishery has been undergoing assessment against the MSC criteria since 2009 and in August 2011, the certifying company Moody Marine Ltd released a final report recommending certification. Although the objection may prevent the fishery’s certification, the assessment process has revealed gaps in the MSC standard

Hector will be cycling over 1600 kilometres to voice his demand that MSC protect its brand from being abused by unsustainable fisheries. Hector and Shannon Arnold, Marine Coordinator of the Ecology Action Centre, left Gijon, Spain today, heading for London with stops planned at various retailer and ENGO friends along the way.

The duo is expected to arrive in London on October 17, 2011 to meet with senior executives of the MSC and present their concerns about the future of the MSC brand and the credibility of sustainable seafood labelling. Friends of Hector can keep in touch through the blog www.hectoronwheels.org or through Facebook.

For more information

• Media brief about the objection
• Hector’s background story