The fishing industry is faced with many internal and external challenges. Eco-Labelling and Certification is one of the new emerging external challenges that industry is currently faced with. In certain countries around the world, consumers are demanding that food products, and in particular seafood products be certified as being harvested in a sustainable way. This certification is conducted by an accredited independent body. Once a fishery is certified, a logo/label can be used to show that it is a sustainable fishery. In order for the fishery of the future to remain competitive and access new markets, many companies will have to move in this direction.

In an effort to improve awareness and education on this subject, the NS Fisheries Sector Council (NSFSC) will produce a toolkit for industry’s use. The materials developed in this project will provide industry with a “road map” as to where they need to go in the future.

The Eco-Labelling/Certification Toolkit will provide both the processing and harvesting sectors with resource material so they can make informed decisions on if they wish to move towards certification of a fishery. It will attempt to answer some of the many questions surrounding this topic such as:

What is Eco-labelling?
Why do we need to consider Eco-labelling?
What is the cost to industry?
What is the process involved in having a product “certified to be from a sustainable source”?
Who can perform this certification?
What are other countries/competitors doing?
What are customers demanding?