Benefits of Certification for Small-scale Fisheries - SEAFOOD Ecolabelling: Principles and Practice - page 319

their product either locally or nationally. In addition, the capital, infrastructure and
skills that would need to be invested to create international markets may not be worth
the returns, given that many small-scale fisheries are also low-volume fisheries
compared to the major players in the global marketplace. The greatest market
potential for many of these fisheries will be local 'international' markets formed
through eco-tourism in high-end market niches like 'white-tablecloth restaurants'
and specialty grocery stores, or by identifying and working with local and national
resellers interested in sourcing small volumes of sustainable products.
Most small-scale fisheries that enter the MSC certification process recognise the
challenges of competing in the global marketplace where the demand and rewards
may be greater for MSC certified products. Thus, instead of focusing on potential
international market benefits, small-scale fisheries are attracted to the potential
environmental, social and political benefits. While some social and political benefits
can be realised during the process of assessment, there are additional potential
benefits once the fishery has successful completed MSC certification and has been
awarded the certificate. Becoming MSC certified means that the fishery can develop
new marketing methods. In doing so, the fishery will heighten its local and national
visibility and, depending on the resources of the fishery and/or its partners, they
can even gain visibility in the international realm.
15.3.10 Creating social and political benefits
The Baja California spiny lobster fishery had to address both knowledge gaps
and political obstacles on their path towards MSC certification, and was eventually
successful largely because of the will and determination of the nine cooperatives that
make up this fishery. In order to determine the fishery's perception of the benefits of
MSC certification, WWF and our local partner Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI)
worked with the fishery to develop a baseline assessment. This was written by two
of the fishery leaders and in their own words they describe the benefits they have
seen as a result of the MSC certification (Ramade & Garcia 2005).
One of the major benefits they describe is the recognition they have received
from the Mexican government and the resulting benefits of this raised visibility.
Prior to MSC certification the cooperatives paid for basic community services,
including electricity for more than 30 years, from their own pockets. Within a
year of the fishery achieving MSC certification, the fishery has been granted over
US$20 million in government and grant funds to create the infrastructure to bring
electricity to these communities. In addition, five of the cooperatives now also have
drinkable water provided by desalination, which was made possible by the supply
of electricity. This is resulting is healthier communities and money back in the
fisher's pockets (Ramade & Garcia 2005).
The fishery has also been asked to participate in a number of fisher exchanges.
Representatives from the fishery have travelled to Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica,
Brazil, the US and within Mexico to share their story. These exchanges allow the