Overview
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on China’s seafood sector with exports falling by 8% in 2020. Although the fishery will maintain the management programme put in place thanks to the support of CAPPMA, and the Bureau of Fisheries China, it is with a heavy heart that we inform you that processors, importers and local authorities are not able to commit to support the project beyond June 2021.
The status of the FIP will therefore be moved to inactive on Fishery Progress until such time we are able to form a client group and implement the final phase of the FIP, and lead the fishery into full MSC assessment. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all FIP participants and stakeholders (in particular, Xiaotong Yu from CAPPMA, Tim Huntingdon from Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management, Jiangsu Baolong Group Co Ltd, Clarus Chu from WWF, Bakkavor, MSC china and Lyons seafoods), involved for their dedicated, hard work.
The fishery is situated in the northern region of China's Jiangsu province, and covers an area of 20,000 hectares along the river and wetland system of the Doulong River. An Action Plan has been developed to identify what improvements are required for the fishery to meet the MSC standard over the next three to five years.
It is a small-scale artisanal fishery, supporting the livelihoods of over 550 local full-time and part-time fishermen and their families in the Dafeng area. In the long run, this FIP and the MSC certification not only will ensure the sustainability of the fishery, but also secure the livelihoods of these artisanal fishermen.
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on China’s seafood sector with exports falling by 8% in 2020.
By 2021, this FIP aims to achieve all of the following objectives:
- To improve capacity building to provide training and regional focus.
- To demonstrate consistent management at the fishery level with full traceability from ‘pond to plate.’
- To minimise the risk of overfishing by stock management and facilitate biomass recovery through stock monitoring and evaluation.
- To minimise negative environmental impacts.
- To meet the requirements of the Marine Stewardship Council Certification Standards.