The project aims to promote sustainable practices in the Spanish fishing industry.

The project aims to promote sustainable practices in the Spanish fishing industry.

It seeks to influence the transformation of the national fishing sector, contributing to a more sustainable perspective in fishing practices, generating tangible improvements in the marine ecosystem and helping to secure livelihoods in fishing regions through the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.

In this way, it is intended to protect fish stocks and the health of marine ecosystems in Spanish waters, as well as the natural resources exploited by our country’s fisheries.

The specific objectives are:

• Increase the number of Spanish fisheries using the MSC assessment programme to ensure the sustainability of their operations.
• To increase the demand for MSC certified product in Spain.
• To raise awareness among consumers about the problems associated with overfishing, to convey the meaning of the eco-label and to provide information to choose between different purchasing options.

Among the activities that will be developed within the framework of the initiative, it is worth highlighting the holding of meetings with stakeholders in the fishing sector that offer the greatest potential in terms of environmental and commercial impact, as well as monitoring and technical support to fisheries interested in the programme.

In addition, a report will be prepared on the financing possibilities at international, national and regional level for the Spanish fisheries participating in the programme. Contacts will also be established with government agencies, scientists and NGOs developing marine programmes to promote their support for fisheries and their collaboration to the extent necessary to enable them to comply with the MSC standard.

The project includes the holding of a workshop with scientists and NGOs, to discuss the priority aspects to be improved, as well as another aimed at artisanal fisheries to present the program and receive their contributions.

Likewise, it is intended to disseminate the MSC standard at a fish point of sale, in collaboration with a distribution or catering chain that has an offer of MSC products.