Anchovy fishing vessels in the southern Peruvian sea.
Photo by: Produce.
MarinTrust, whose standards programme aims to enable marine ingredient production factories to gain recognition for sourcing and production, has updated its Factory Standard.
Effective from 1 May 2024, the MarinTrust Factory Standard Version 3 aims to establish fully traceable marine ingredients and enhances the standard's emphasis on environmental and social impacts at both the production facilities and the fishing vessels.
The update is designed to increase the accessibility of responsibly sourced marine ingredients and promote the use of by-products, the organization said in a press announcement.
As of April 2024, there are 172 sites in 30 different countries that comply with the MarinTrust Standard, the organization confirmed.
“This new version encompasses a bold step for our industry and value chain, and we are extremely proud of all the work that has gone into its development,” said Francisco Aldon, CEO of MarinTrust.
"With around six million tonnes of marine ingredients, mostly fishmeal and fish oil, produced globally, 48% of which are, to date, certified against the MarinTrust Standard, this new version will have a hugely positive impact around the world," he added.
Any new applicants to the MarinTrust programme will already need to adhere to the updated standard. Those already certified now have a one-year transition period to prepare for audits under the new rules, with the expectation that all companies will be certified against V3 by May 1, 2025.
MarinTrust said that development of Version 3 involved a rigorous process, including global pilot assessments and feedback from auditors, certified companies, and other stakeholders in the marine ingredients industry. This process aimed to improve the consistency and efficiency of the audits.
MarinTrust has also released various supporting documents and guidance to assist stakeholders in transitioning to the new standard and understanding the updated criteria for by-product and whole fish assessments, which can be accessed here.
