Kochi, India - The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has drafted national guidelines for marine ecolabelling to enhance the global competitiveness of the country's marine products.
The proposed framework aims to regulate seafood sustainability certification programmes, protect the interests of the fishing community, and promote environmental sustainability.
A key feature of the draft guidelines is the equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes, ensuring that legitimate stakeholders are not excluded from the benefits of ecolabelling.
Ecolabel certification verifies that fish and fishery products originate from sustainable and responsibly managed fisheries.
The proposed guidelines seek to ensure that certification schemes function in alignment with India's fisheries laws, sustainability priorities, and socio-economic realities.
