Public Comment Sought on Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard Issue 2.1
Issue 2.1 of the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) has been released to the public, initiating a 60-day public comment period that ends December 1, 2022, the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) announced on Monday, October 3. RFVS is part of GSA’s Best Seafood Practices (BSP) third-party certification program, which was introduced last June and includes the Seafood Processing Standard (SPS).
Issue 2.1 will replace Issue 2.0 and includes one update from 2.0, adding a clause requiring a policy against bribery, corruption, and extortion for the vessel and its suppliers. The requirement had previously been a part of the RFVS eligibility criteria, rather than a standalone clause. This minor update now fully aligns GSA’s RFVS with the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative’s At-Sea Operations Benchmark.
Stakeholders interested in submitting comments are encouraged to do so here. A draft of RFVS Issue 2.1 can be viewed here. All properly submitted comments will be considered by GSA before the final draft of RFVS Issue 2.1 is published following the public comment period. The RFVS is simultaneously in public comment for its SSCI benchmarking for 30 days.
About Best Seafood Practices
Best Seafood Practices is a third-party certification program administered by the Global Seafood Alliance, an international, nonprofit association dedicated to advancing responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy and third-party assurances. BSP is the world’s only third-party certification program capable of linking responsible wild fisheries to certified vessels and processing plants. BSP provides assurances to the marketplace that wild seafood has been harvested and processed in an ethical manner with respect for the wellbeing and security of all workers across the supply chain. Visit bspcertification.org.
