Improver Programme News
This page provides information regarding meetings, workshops, training and outreach MarinTrust have undertaken about the MarinTrust Improver Programme (MT IP).
Note: From the 1st April 2020, the IFFO RS standard programme has rebranded and is now MarinTrust.
IFFO RS meets with the Department of Fisheries from Thailand (DoF) to discuss the multispecies pilot project
17th January 2020
IFFO RS met with the new Deputy Director General of the Thailand DoF, Dr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, and other DoF staff during a trip to Bangkok. The meeting was to develop the relationship between both entities as well as to facilitate discussion regarding the current multispecies pilot project work currently being piloted in the Gulf of Thailand trawl fishery. This project uses the IFFO RS Improver Programme framework to provide the assurance and credibility to the application and also allow for transparency of the development and findings of the work, the applicants in this case being the Thai Sustainable Fisheries Round Table (TSFR).
IFFO RS Improver Programme Training
12th January 2020
Nicola Clark (Impacts Manager) and Deirdre Hoare (Fisheries Science Manager) from IFFO RS provided training to Certification Body (CB) staff and auditors in Bangkok on the IFFO RS Improver Programme (IFFO RS IP) application procedures and an update on the IFFO RS multispecies fishery pilot project being run in the Gulf of Thailand. This session was designed to go through the IFFO RS IP application process step by step and provide any additional clarifications as well being an opportunity for the CB to provide input for future developments and ask questions.
IFFO RS welcome new FIPs onto the Improver Programme
IFFO RS is delighted to announce that the Indian Oil Sardine (Goa and Maharashtra) and the Mauritanian small pelagics Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) have successfully met the criteria for acceptance on to the IFFO RS Improver Programme (IFFO RS IP). This step forward will allow better management of the fishery and enable producers of marine ingredients to demonstrate their commitment towards responsibly sourced raw materials. During the IFFO RS IP process, these FIPs will have to meet a series of time-bound improvement milestones with the aim to apply for full IFFO RS Certification once all the improvements have been implemented. Further information can be found here.
Ecuadorian small pelagics industrial fishery FIP passes 6-month validation check
In order to demonstrate continued improvement of IFFO RS accepted FIPs, new applicants have to provide evidence of actions completed after 6-months following final acceptance onto the IFFO RS Improver Programme. This is to ensure appropriate actions have been completed or are in progress. The Ecuadorian small pelagics industrial fishery FIP recently completed this 6-month validation check, having demonstrated the required improvements at this milestone of the process. All accepted FIPs can be found on the IFFO RS website here: https://www.iffors.com/improver-programme-accepted-fips.
IFFO RS welcome Procesadora Bayano S.A to the IFFO RS Improver Programme
Following the transition of the Panama small pelagics Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) to the new IFFO RS Improver Programme (IFFO RS IP) application procedures against V2.0 of the IFFO RS standard in April 2019, Procesadora Bayano S.A. became the most recent production site to be accepted onto IFFO RS IP. In order to be accepted onto the IFFO RS IP a production site needs to be a signed stakeholder in an IFFO RS accepted FIP and pass an IFFO RS audit of their production site. All accepted sites can be found on the IFFO RS website here: https://www.iffors.com/improver-programme-accepted-sites
Multispecies Pilot Steering Group (MPSG) continue work in SE Asia
7th June 2019
Prior to the SeaWeb conference in Bangkok, Thailand, the MPSG lead by IFFO RS, met to discuss the continued development of the IFFO RS Multispecies Pilot project and share information with representatives from the developing FIPs in the Gulf of Thailand and Vung Tau, Vietnam. Information regarding the pilot process, using the IFFO RS Improver Programme framework, the timeframe of the process and a communication plan was presented and discussed and any potential challenges highlighted to ensure these can be proactively considered. The key aspects of recognition and expectations were clarified and crucially this meeting allowed the local stakeholders an opportunity to get some initial feedback on their Fishery Action Plan and bring their own ideas to the table.
The Multispecies Pilot Steering Group (MPSG) met with representatives from Thailand and Vietnam during the Brussels Seafood Expo to continue developing the pilot
8th May 2019
The MPSG met during the Brussels Seafood Expo to discuss the continued development of the IFFO RS Multispecies Pilot project and share information with representatives from developing FIPs in Thailand and Vietnam. Clear guidance on expectations and recognition was determined and an outline of future meetings and communication discussed.
IFFO RS met with a representative of the Panama small pelagics FIP following their successful transition within the IFFO RS Improver Programme
2nd to 3rd May 2019
During the IFFO members meeting in Madrid, Spain, Libby Woodhatch (Executive Chair, IFFO RS Governing Body) and Francisco Aldon (General Manager at IFFO RS) met with Brian Murtagh (AnimalFeeds) to congratulate the Panama FIP stakeholders on their transition to the new IFFO RS IP application procedure against V2.0 of the IFFO RS standard. This process involved the implementation of a new law in Panama as well as investment in technology, staff training and vessel observers. This continued journey of improvement will allow better management of the fishery and enable producers of marine ingredients to demonstrate their commitment towards responsibly sourced raw materials.
IFFO RS Improver Programme Assessor Training
5th April 2019
Nicola Clark (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator) and Deirdre Hoare (Fisheries Science Manager) from IFFO RS provided training to assessors in London on the IFFO RS IP application procedures and the IFFO RS Fishery Assessment process in relation to FIPs. This session was designed to go through the IFFO RS IP application process step by step and provide any additional clarifications as well being an opportunity for the assessors to provide input for future developments.
The Pew Charitable Trusts Workshop - Illegal Fishing: How Surimi and Fish Meal Industries Can Help
8th, 9th, 12th, 15th November 2018
Nicola Clark (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator) represented IFFO RS at a series of workshops in SE Asia (Bangkok, Thailand; Surabaya, Indonesia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) provided by the Pew Charitable Trusts on IUU fishing in the region and how industry can help reduce its risk in the Seafood Supply Chain. Nicola provided a general overview of the IFFO RS Programme and an introduction of the Multispecies Pilot Project currently being developed.
IFFO RS meets with the Department of Fisheries from Thailand (DoF) and the Thai Sustainable Fishery Roundtable (TSFR)
17th May 2018
IFFO RS gave an update on the development of its multispecies criteria and on the new changes to the IFFO RS Improver Programme Application Procedures to a full room where the Director General of the DoF Dr. Adisorn Promthep and TSFR members including its president Mr. Pornsil Patchrintanakul and new members from different divisions were present. Francisco Aldon, General Manager of IFFO RS and Dr. Nicola Clark, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator presented the proposed timelines for identification of baseline criteria and thresholds for its multispecies component that is aimed to be ready for pilot testing from October 2018. Collaboration between the DoF, TSFR and IFFO RS in the development and implementation of the multispecies fisheries criteria is of great importance for the marine ingredient value chain. This will allow the standard to be relevant and fit for purpose for those types of fisheries that are common in the South East Asian area. This in turn will allow the Gulf of Thailand (GoT) fisheries and other multispecies fisheries from the area to demonstrate to the world the true intention for improvement by implementing, over a period of time, an effective fishery management system that will protect fish stocks, the wider marine ecosystem and will reduce the utilisation of IUU fish in the production of marine ingredients.
In addition, it will create the opportunity to enter international markets and be recognised by the major aquaculture standards in the world such as BAP and the ASC in the near future. The outcome of the meeting was that the DoF is committed to work together with the TSFR and IFFO RS in order to help with the development of the multispecies criteria and to bring the GoT up to the level that the IFFO RS Improver Programme requires for approval.