RFVS Is First Scheme to Achieve SSCI’s At-Sea Operations Benchmark
The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) has announced that the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) has completed the SSCI benchmarking process and has achieved SSCI recognition. RFVS Issue 2.1 has become the first standard globally to be successfully benchmarked against the SSCI Benchmarking Requirements for At-Sea Operations Version 1.0. In achieving SSCI Recognition, RFVS has shown global leadership in the effort to build credibility among fishing vessel sustainability standards worldwide. RFVS is part of the Best Seafood Practices (BSP) third-party certification program launched in 2021 by the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA).
As it “verifies the verifiers,” SSCI awards an additional layer of trust to sustainability standards that demonstrate alignment with the SSCI Benchmark Criteria and achieve SSCI recognition. RVFS was the first scheme to apply under this new At-Sea Operations scope, which was launched in May 2021. SSCI is committed to building trust in sustainability standards by recognizing programs that respect key sustainability criteria, as defined by leading industry stakeholders, in its evaluation methods.
Didier Bergeret, CGF Director of Sustainability, said, “We congratulate the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard for not only achieving SSCI Recognition but also for being the first scheme to do so under our At-Sea Operations scope. The seafood sector faces many sustainability challenges, and it is critical that we can trust certification schemes to cover key issues and deliver credible assessments. With SSCI Recognition, RFVS signals to the industry its leadership in raising the bar for schemes, driving continuous improvement across the industry and providing CGF members with trustworthy assessments on supply chain sustainability.”
“RFVS becoming the first standard to be benchmarked against SSCI’s requirements for At-Sea Operations demonstrates our commitment to building trust in seafood,” said Brian Perkins, CEO of the Global Seafood Alliance. “Benchmarking is a critical part of seafood certification, and this achievement underscores the assurances RFVS provides relative to best-in-class operational and social practices at sea. We look forward to working with vessel operators around the world to help them demonstrate industry-leading assurances to the marketplace.”
The SSCI Benchmark is a comprehensive process that recognizes which schemes cover key sustainability criteria and apply relevant verification practices. The process revolves around a first self-assessment undertaken by the scheme, followed by a review by an independent expert, office visits and a public consultation. The methodology also includes opportunities for the applicant to take corrective actions if needed.
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.
