The Role of VSS in Enhancing the Contribution of Fisheries and Aquaculture to Sustainable Development

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of initiatives by GIZ and its partners in respect to the introduction of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in developing countries since 1999. In the capture fisheries sector these range from the implementation of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, to standards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Naturland Wildfish and the Marine Aquarium Council for ornamental fish. Countries concerned were Kenya, the Philippines, Tanzania, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. In the aquaculture sector VSS comprised of the Naturland Organic Aquaculture standard for shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and the GlobalG.A.P. and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standards for pangasius. Projects supported were mainly in Ecuador, Thailand and Vietnam. In the Philippines, a local organic standard, based on Naturland criteria, was developed and applied for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and milkfish (Chanos chanos).