The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has prepared a draft of India's National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling, proposing a comprehensive framework to regulate seafood sustainability certification programmes and enhance the global competitiveness of the country's marine products. Released as a discussion paper, the draft comes amid growing demand for internationally recognised sustainability certification for Indian seafood and increasing interest from global certification agencies in the country. A key feature of the proposed guidelines is the protection of the interests of the fishing community while promoting environmental sustainability and facilitating premium market access for Indian seafood products. The draft recognises that although ecolabelling can help fisheries access high-value international markets and improve returns for fishers, market-driven certification systems may create barriers for small-scale and traditional fishing communities. To address this, the framework calls for equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes, ensuring legitimate stakeholders are not excluded from the benefits. Ecolabel certification verifies that fish and fishery products originate from sustainable and responsibly managed fisheries. India currently does not have a national mechanism to govern such certification processes, even as several international agencies have shown interest in operating in the country. The proposed guidelines seek to ensure certification schemes align with India's fisheries laws, sustainability priorities and socio-economic realities. The draft reaffirms the country's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone and stipulates that all certification activities must comply with national and state fisheries regulations, biodiversity conservation laws, seafood safety standards and coastal aquaculture norms. It emphasises traceability across the seafood value chain and explores developing an indigenous Indian marine eco-label to complement globally recognised systems.
CMFRI drafts national guidelines for marine ecolabelling to boost seafood exports
CMFRI (ICAR) has drafted India's National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling as a discussion paper, proposing a framework to regulate seafood sustainability certification, protect traditional fishers, ensure compliance with national fisheries laws, and explore an indigenous Indian marine eco-label to boost seafood exports.
Key facts
- CMFRI (ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) prepared a draft of India's National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling, released as a discussion paper.
- The framework aims to regulate seafood sustainability certification and enhance global competitiveness of India's marine products.
- It seeks to protect the fishing community by ensuring equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes.
- India currently lacks a national mechanism to govern such certification, despite interest from international certification agencies.
- The draft reaffirms India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and mandates compliance with national/state fisheries laws, biodiversity conservation, seafood safety and coastal aquaculture norms.
- It emphasises traceability across the value chain and explores an indigenous Indian marine eco-label.
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With reference to the draft National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling prepared by CMFRI, consider the following statements:\n1. The draft reaffirms India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone.\n2. The proposed framework calls for equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes.\nWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both statements are correct. The draft reaffirms India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone, and the framework calls for equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes to ensure legitimate stakeholders are not excluded.
Source: Hindustan Times
Frequently asked questions
What has CMFRI prepared?
CMFRI has prepared a draft of India's National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling, released as a discussion paper, to regulate seafood sustainability certification and enhance the global competitiveness of India's marine products.
Why are the guidelines needed?
India currently does not have a national mechanism to govern seafood certification processes, even as several international agencies have shown interest in operating in the country, and there is growing demand for internationally recognised sustainability certification.
How do the guidelines protect fishers?
The framework calls for equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes, ensuring legitimate stakeholders are not excluded from the benefits of ecolabelling.
What does the draft say about sovereignty and compliance?
It reaffirms India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone and requires certification activities to comply with national and state fisheries regulations, biodiversity conservation laws, seafood safety standards and coastal aquaculture norms.
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