Appendix 2a. Text extracts from the current CR/GCR showing variations in the
language relating to scoring of multiple species/stocks in P1.
CR reference
Text
Text suggesting a ‘fishery’ or UoC could include more than one species or stock
Vocabulary term: The living resources in the community or population from which catches
Fish stock
are taken in a fishery. Use of the term fish stock implies that the
particular population is a biological distinct unit. In a particular fishery, the
fish stock may be one or several species of finfish or other aquatic
organisms.
Vocabulary term: A list of matters that are to be taken into account when determining the
Scoring
performance score on an indicator; also the matters used in determining
elements
a SG benchmark. In the case of Principles 1 or 2, used to mean a subdivision of individual parts of the ecosystem affected by the fishery, such
as different species/stocks/sub-stocks or habitats within a Component.
Vocabulary term: Refers to any or all of stocks, populations, individual species, or
Species
groupings of species, depending on the context. In contexts such as
bycatch there may be a large number of individual species taken in a
fishery, such that it is impractical and inefficient to attempt to address
status and impact of each species individually. In such cases it is
acceptable to group species with similar biological characteristics into
species groups, and evaluate outcome status and fishery impact for the
species group.
Vocabulary term: Those fish stocks which have been assessed under Principle 1 of the
Target stocks(s)
MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing.
Vocabulary term: The target stock(s) combined with the fishing method/gear and practice
Unit of Cert’n
(including vessel/s) pursuing that stock. When the term “unit of
certification” is used for fisheries that are in assessment, it refers to the
“unit of assessment” or “unit of potential certification”. Note that other
eligible fishers may be included in some units of certification but not
initially certified (until covered by a certificate sharing arrangement). 18
27.4.2
The CAB shall confirm the proposed unit of certification for the
assessment to include:
27.4.2.1 The target stock (s),
27.4.2.2 The fishing method or gear, and
27.4.2.3 Practice (including vessels) pursuing that stock
Text suggesting that multiple scoring elements are only applicable in P2
27.10.7
In Principle 2, the team shall score PIs comprised of differing scoring
elements (species or habitats) that comprise part of a component
affected by the fishery.
CC2.3.1.1
The team shall work with stakeholders at the SICA consultation meeting
to: … (b) Identify the scoring element “most vulnerable” to the identified
fishing activities.
i. For PI 1.1.1 the target stock is usually the only scoring element. In that
case this paragraph does not apply. ◙
ii. For PIs in P2 there may be more than one scoring element identified
during the information gathering stage. If so, the scoring element “most
vulnerable” to fishing activities shall be identified.
GCC2.3.1.1bi.
At present, even for multi-species fisheries, each target stock seeking
MSC certification will need its own assessment under Principle 1.
CC2.4.4.3
In cases in P2 where there is more than one scoring element, and they
18
The text in italics was added to the definitionn with CR v1.3 in January 2013 as one of the ‘medium
issues’.
MSC Consultation – Unit of Certification
Page 39
are all ‘data-deficient’ (RBF), the team shall derive a final MSC score by
applying rules in Table CC18 to the set of MSC equivalent scores.
Text that could be interpreted as implying that scoring should apply to a single ‘stock’ in P1
PI 1.1.1
The stock is at a level which maintains high productivity and has a low
probability of recruitment overfishing.
[Note that there are similar references to the ‘stock’ in the actual SGs.
Although the singular phrasing is used for stock here, note that the
vocabulary definition above indicates this may include more than one
species.]
Appendix 2b. Draft revisions to the CR/GCR sections confirming that multiple species
could be assessed within one UoC in P1.
CR reference
27.10.7
CC2.3.1.1
GCC2.3.1.1bi.
CC2.4.4.3
Text
In Principle 1 or 2, the team shall score PIs comprised of differing scoring
elements (species or habitats) that comprise part of a component
affected by the fishery.
The team shall work with stakeholders at the SICA consultation meeting
to: … (b) Identify the scoring element “most vulnerable” to the identified
fishing activities.
i. For PI 1.1.1 the target stock is usually (but not always) the only scoring
element. In that case this paragraph does not apply. ◙
ii. For PIs in P1 or P2, where more than one scoring element is identified
during the information gathering stage, the scoring element “most
vulnerable” to fishing activities shall be identified.
At present, even for mixed-species fisheries, each target stock seeking
MSC certification will need its own assessment under Principle 1. This
may either be done by defining each species as a separate UoA, or by
scoring the species as separate scoring elements within a combined
UoA (following the process in CR section 27.10.7). Separate stocks
within a species may also be scored as scoring elements within a single
UoA, as outlined in CR section CB2.2.5 (see also section G27.4.2).
In cases in P1 or P2 where there is more than one scoring element, and
they are all ‘data-deficient’ (RBF), the team shall derive a final MSC
score by applying rules in Table CC18 to the set of MSC equivalent
scores.
Appendix 2c. Draft revisions to the CR/GCR sections allowing the UoC to be
submitted initially in draft, and confirmed after the site visit.
The following changes are also proposed to allow some flexibility in the definition of the Unit
of Certification. In this section, suggested additions are formatted in red font and removals
are shown in strike out. If approved, such changes would be integrated with the edits
proposed in Appendices 1a and 1b.
Unit of Certification ◙
27.4.2 The CAB shall confirm the proposed propose the unit of certification for the
assessment to include:
MSC Consultation – Unit of Certification
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