The approach of Key Traceability is to support clients with their needs as they work towards fishery sustainability. We help companies, non-governmental and governmental organisations that are committed to improving their environmental and social performance. In this role Key Traceability provides technical and scientific advice relating to FIPs; Key Traceability does not own FIPs and is not the decision maker.
Fisheries sustainability cannot be achieved alone and fortunately, in our sector, there are many organisations that support efforts to improve. Key Traceability works closely with these organisations and uses the tools available to provide the best possible service to clients. We also recognise that some tools may not be suitable in all cases for some clients and where clients choose not to use them we respect that and will still help them on their sustainability needs.
We recommend listing FIPs on www.fisheryprogress.org, which is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for FIPs. If FIPs choose not to be listed on this website, then whichever platform is used must be fully aligned with the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions FIP guidelines. Additionally, in order to demonstrate that the FIP is making progress, it must receive a rating from independent NGO Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
It is becoming more important for fisheries to demonstrate their social accountability and to provide information about this publicly. Therefore Key Traceability recommends that fisheries consider the social tools available to them, including social audits, standards, risk assessments, social improvement workplans, and other fishery economic analyses. Explanations of the fishery socio-economic activities should then be posted publicly on the chosen the website the FIP is published on.
The website the FIP is published on should also require that all participants have agreed to have all data presented publicly. Data that is considered confidential for legal, safeguarding, or economic reasons will be treated as such and not published on the website unless sufficiently anonymised. All fishing companies should confirm that no vessels within the FIP have had a successful, upheld conviction for forced labour violations within the last two years. Any vessels that have been should not be allowed within the FIP. To ensure this is the case, lists of all the vessels in the FIP should also be made public.
In addition to this, the website the FIP is published on should detail what the current grievance procedures are for all fishing vessels, explaining how they are available to all fishers and how disputes are fairly resolved. If there is no grievance procedure, this must be stated and worked on.
We believe transparency and stakeholder participation is a vital tool in a successful FIP. The website the FIP is published on should require all FIPs to hold annual in person stakeholder meetings in which all stakeholders can request to join. Additionally, all FIPs must undergo a mandatory 30-day open consultation period for stakeholders to provide comments. These comments are welcomed throughout.
Through complying with the requirements established for credible FIP recognition and continuing to actively engage with environmental sustainability and social accountability actions, FIPs can continue towards measurable improvements on their journey to certification.