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Stakeholder Involvement in the
FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries
Management Certification Program Process

Who are stakeholders?

Stakeholders include fishery participants (fishers), fish processors, fish traders, government fishery management organizations, non-government organizations and other parties or persons having information that may be important in the assessment of fisheries to the FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification Program.

Stakeholder Input

The FAO-Based RFM assessment process follows the requirements of ISO65 accredited certification and includes a comprehensive stakeholder engagement procedure. This occurs in two ways:

Firstly, extensive site visits are conducted at both the validation and full assessment steps in the assessment of a fishery. A typical site visit to the fishery includes meetings with the Applicant and their representative associations, the fishery management organizations, enforcement bodies and scientific institutions responsible for research and assessment of the fishery and related areas.

1
Application & Applicant Review
Application submitted by Applicant (ASMI) to Accredited Certification Body (ABC). *
Applicant Review preformed by ACB

2
Validation Report
Produced by ACB staff.

3
Assessment Verification/Information Review, Site Visits, Assessment Report
Performed by ACB staff and its Assessment Team of outside experts.

4
External Peer Review
Conducted by minimum of two independent experts; these Peer Reviewers are not members of ACB staff or Assessment Team, but are under contract to ACB.

5
Final Assessment Report
Final Report for presentation to the Certification Committee. The Report contains all information from previous steps and a recommendation from the Assessment Team for certification.

6
Certification Decision
Conducted by an independent Certification Committee; the Committee members are not members of the Assessment Team or Peer Reviewers. Final report and Certification Decision will be posted on www.alaskaseafood.org

Secondly, fishery stakeholders may wish to independently, submit information into the fishery assessment process. Information may vary in nature and detail, but must be clearly documented and based upon objective evidence.

The assessment team is required to review all information submitted by stakeholders in the evaluation of performance of an Applicant fishery.

Stakeholders may submit information at any time. The information will be reviewed by the certification body with respect to its eligibility and bearing on the conformance of an Applicant or existing certified fishery. For Applicant fisheries, submissions will be considered to the point of the peer review step in the process and for existing certified fisheries, submissions will be considered at the next surveillance assessment of the fishery.

Information received outside of these periods will be held by the certification body until the annual surveillance activity commences. However, if information is deemed to have a serious bearing on the certification status of a fishery, the certification body may elect to open up an immediate investigation.

How to make a Submission

Stakeholders should submit via the official form, either electronically, via the web based facility available on below or by mailing the official form directly to the certification body.

FAO: Tracey Coleman, FAO Administrator
Global Trust Certification,
3rd Floor, Block 3,
Quayside Business Park, Mill Street,
Dundalk,
Co. Louth.
Ireland

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible submissions must meet the following requirements:

  • Submissions must be non-confidential and available for reporting and referencing within the assessment process and final certification reports.
  • Submissions must have an objective basis, supported by evidence and specific to the conformance of a fishery against the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the FAO Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.
  • Submissions must contain the name and contact details of the submitting entity or person and their relationship with the fishery subject to the submission.
  • Submission must be made on the official submission form, filed on line or downloadable below. Submitted material that is not accompanied with the official submission form will not be eligible for assessment purposes.

Submission Form

Automated confirmation of receipt of submissions will be provided to the e-mail address. Submissions made by surface mail will not receive written acknowledgement.
Click here to download a printable version of the Submission Form

Name/Title

Contact Address

E-mail

Applicant or Certified Fishery

Type of entity

Nature of the Submission
 Fisheries Management System Science and Stock Assessment Precautionary Approach Management Measures Monitoring, Control and Enforcement Serious Impacts of the Fishery on the Ecosystem

Brief description of the submission

Attachments

I/we confirm/accept that:

The submitted information is not confidential and can be used in the assessment and reporting process, including reporting and referencing in publically available reports.

The information contained in the submission is considered a true and factual account and is available for submission purposes.

I am/we are available for direct contact from the certification body, where required with respect to the evaluation of submitted information.

The certification body and associated applicant or certified fishery accepts no liability for losses, damages or otherwise, howsoever so caused upon us/we and any other party, arising out of the use of the submitted information.

The certification body decision on the use and outcome of use of the submitted information is final.