A while ago I wrote about the attempt to get the Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery certified as sustainable. It seems the MSC has come under fire for certifying another fishery that has a significant impact on sharks: the Canadian swordfish longline fishery. Due to issues with the certification process, it seems that some threatened and near-threatened species of sharks are not technically considered “ETP” (Endangered-Threatened-Protected) species, despite listing on the IUCN Red List and other conservation organizations. The Canadian conservation group Friends of Hector sent a letter to the MSC with these concerns.
David has a much more thorough description of the issue than I do, so be sure to check out his post. For other general concerns over the MSC’s certification process, check out this blog dedicated to just that.