FAQs - All

Who funds FishSource?

The principal funding for FishSource is from The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, under the fiscal sponsorship of the Trust for Conservation Innovation).

How can I contribute?

You just need to register and login to provide any feedback.

Who is the main target audience of FishSource?

FishSource is directed at seafood businesses in order to help them source sustainable product, and not the individual, final consumer.

Are there any profiles for farmed species?

The aquaculture component is still under development, but it will adhere to the same basic principles as the rest of FishSource – it will use only public information, and not define sustainability itself, but instead report on basic metrics.

Does FishSource define sustainability?

No. FishSource provides both qualitative and quantitative information about specific variables which are key across international standards of fisheries’ sustainability (e.g., ICES, NMFS) such as biomass and fishing mortality levels, impact of fishing upon habitat or bycatch, but does not define a level above which is “sustainable” – FishSource leaves it to the users of the FishSource data to do that themselves, according to whichever standard of definition of sustainability they are using. FishSource is like a thermometer – it reports a reading, but it’s up to the user to determine whether its “too hot, too cold, or just right”.

From the seafood business perspective, what is the added value of FishSource?

Since different stocks within the same species are expected to experience different sustainability status the added value of FishSource comes from providing actionable information to its audience, meaning, at the fishery and/or stock level. By doing this FishSource eases the work of seafood businesses committed to address the sustainability status of their sourcing options.

Why are scores based on data from different dates?

Because the statistics they rely upon obey to different official dates of release (see also “How often are the FishSource profiles updated?”)

What is FishSource all about?

FishSource is an online resource available to the public about the sustainability status of fisheries and fish stocks. FishSource consolidates and summarizes the main scientific and technical information needed by seafood buyers to evaluate the sustainability of fisheries.

Why aren’t some fishery profiles completed?

FishSource seeks to cover as many fisheries as possible. Our approach consist on creating ID and Scores pages, as well as summary pages whenever possible, opening the profile for external contributions from experts of particular aspects of fisheries, or invited partners, following a “seed” rational, all external contributions being accommodated on the Sustainability Info sections. That’s why some fisheries only have ID, scores and/or summaries.

What is the common structure to all FishSource fishery profiles?

Each profile provides different depths of information. The profiles include: ID page with information on the species, geographical distribution, jurisdiction, and other basic information on the fishery; Sustainability Info page with scientific and technical information from FishSource contributors; Summary Page and Scores Page provide buyers with information they can use; Basics page with some facts and history about the fishery and the species; Sources page on which all sources of information for the profiles are listed including either direct links to the specific documents (when publicly available online) or full quotations (e.g., in the case of peer-reviewed scientific articles).

How often are the FishSource profiles updated?

The official release of stock assessments updates or of any management measures concerning the stock or fishery triggers the profiles’ updating: there’s an internal FishSource updates’ annual calendar which anticipates all major updates required and when (e.g., stock assessments for NE Atlantic fisheries are released late May / early June by ICES) which acts as a base for FishSource staff allocation. The FishSource and SFP staff also tries to be aware of the release of any non-anticipated actions / outcomes concerning management, advice or environmental matters that might justify an update of the corresponding FishSource profiles.

What are the FishSource scores?

FishSource does not have its “own” sustainability rating system, rather providing the user with a straight forward, clear, information on how international, accredited systems would rate / have rated the fisheries. Scores make use of commonly reported numbers from stock assessments but they do not define a fishery as “good” or “bad”. Fisheries can be ranked against one another and give insights into how other groups would score a fishery against current measures of sustainability. Scores currently relate to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards, which in turn rely on international organizations’ criteria – e.g. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea – ICES. Scores have been developed in a way that a score of 8 has a parallel of an 80 MSC rating – i.e., “unconditional passing” on that criteria, towards MSC certification. Same rational applies to, e.g., a FishSource score below 6 → “the fishery will be ineligible for certification” [MSC standards]. To learn more about how scores were derived or how they relate to the MSC system you may download a PDF document here .

How is the reliability and accuracy of the information on FishSource ensured?

FishSource is committed to providing the highest quality data on fisheries possible. Our controls include:

1. Full referencing all sources of information, so users can verify data;
2. Open, online review and comment feature on FishSource;
3. Author’s guide, which provides concise guidelines to contributors, including the scientific standards on which their contribution should rely;
4. Internal review by FishSource staff;
5. Overall supervision by an independent Science Advisory Board (SAB)composed by internationally recognized fisheries science experts which invites and appoints editors/coordinators for each fishery;
6. A User Advisory Group (UAG), composed of representatives from processors, buyers and the NGO community, which provides advice on the usability and features of FishSource, relevance and timeliness of the information provided, and whether the stated vision and objectives of FishSource are being achieved or not.

Why should I contribute?

FishSource relies in part on user reviews and ratings to improve the quality of the service. Your contribution will ensure major buyers of seafood are using high-quality information to assess the sustainability of their sources, and how to help improve those that fall short. By contributing your own knowledge and experience, you are helping fishermen, seafood companies, scientists, governments, NGOs and other stakeholders work together to ensure healthy fisheries and oceans for the future.

What are the sources of information of FishSource?

General sources of the information on FishSource include:

1. Stock assessment reports from organizations officially engaged on assessing stocks, such as ICES (European fisheries), NOAA/NMFS (US fisheries), DFO (Canadian fisheries), New Zealand ministry of Fisheries, South American Institutes of Marine Research;
2. Scientific publications on fish and fisheries dynamics, fish population biology, environmental aspects of fishing;
3. Sustainability analyses, ratings and references from Environmental NGO’s / Aquaria, including publicly available Marine Stewardship Council assessment reports;
4. Official online databases on fisheries statistics and legislation (e.g., European Commission fisheries legislation; Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries – STECF).