The Vietnamese-German technical cooperation GIZ project “Management on Natural Resources in the Coastal Zone of Soc Trang Province” supported a workshop on MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standards for clams in My Tho, TienGiang province on December 5th. About 100 representatives from the relevant authorities from the Mekong Delta provinces, the private sector and clam-cooperatives participated in the workshop. The aim was to exchange about the experiences with MSC certification, which have been gathered throughout the last two years in Ben Tre, as well as exploring the possibilities and challenges for MSC certification for clams from other provinces in the Mekong Delta.
Since 2009 the province of Ben Tre has the MSC certificate for clams. After certification, which is valid for 5 years, annual assessments take place to ensure the quality and compliance with MSC regulations. The clam production in Ben Tre has a high productivity and managed to gain access to new markets, like Italy and Spain.The demand of the market is even higher than Ben Tre can sustainably supply.
The three principles for MSC certification are:
- Maintenance of the target fish stock
- Maintenance of the ecosystem
- Effectiveness of the fishery management system
As “good management” is the hardest criterion within the MSC certification process, it turned out that sustainable management under the co-management principles, which were already set up for some clam-cooperatives in the Mekong Delta, ensures quality and sustainability. The MSC certification can be used as a management tool. Other key aspects discussed were for example the necessity of close cooperation between local authorities, the private sector like manufacturers and the clam-cooperatives, clear awareness of all participants about the long-term benefits and a good environmental monitoring (e.g. water quality).
Participants of the workshop.
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