The Environmental Responsibility Standard for the Commercialization of Fish is a reference framework of voluntary application, aimed at companies that commercialize fish and that seeks to promote better commercial and fishing practices. These practices are governed by principles and criteria that contribute to the sustainable availability of wild species and, in the case of cultivation, the responsible production of cultivated species. The Standard is aimed exclusively at companies that sell wild marine fish (fresh or frozen, domestic or imported) or marine or freshwater fish (fresh or frozen, domestic or imported) from farms. The Standard does not include invertebrate species traded as shellfish. Because it is necessary?Our seas suffer today from overfishing, which puts the stability of marine ecosystems and the natural base of this important economic activity at risk. Nearly 900 million people in the world depend on fishing as their main source of protein. Fishing generates about 200 million jobs, so its sustainability is of great importance. Objective The objective of the Standard is to certify companies interested in marketing marine or freshwater fish that have been caught or cultivated, so that they do so under principles and criteria that contribute to the conservation of the fishing resource, as well as responsible cultivation and consumption .

How is the Standard implemented?

The implementation of the Standard can begin with a sign of interest from the company or as part of a process of socialization of the MarViva technical team, followed by sending the interested party an application form where information will be provided for a preliminary evaluation of compliance with criteria. Once this application is accepted, a confidentiality and implementation agreement is signed, which will cover the diagnostic phase that the MarViva Foundation will carry out. From this phase the recommendations and a follow-up plan arise that will be reviewed and approved by the parties. The accompaniment will seek the consolidation of the principles and criteria established by the Standard through changes in business practices.Areas of application The company may undergo evaluation in the following areas:

• • • • • Fresh or frozen wild fish, national.
        • Fresh or frozen wild fish, imported.
        • Marine or freshwater farmed fish, fresh or frozen, national or imported.

Certification Levels of the Standard Depending on the fields of application, the company can aspire to the following certification levels:

Wild product, fresh or frozen, national

Level 2: Silver , refers to companies in which between 75 and 89.99% of the average volume of fish they sell meets the criteria of the principle of species conservation of their strategic suppliers. In addition, they must comply with all the criteria of the principles of responsible internal processes, social responsibility and consumer awareness. It is not acceptable at this level for the company to manage in its inventory species whose capture is carried out with destructive fishing gear for the marine ecosystem, such as trawling. At this level, only up to 2% of the inventory of species classified as threatened (species not recommended-in red) is provisionally acceptable during the company’s first certification period.

Level 1: Gold , corresponds to companies in which between 90 and 100% of the average volume of fish they sell meets the species conservation requirements of their strategic suppliers. In addition, they must comply with all the criteria of the principles of responsible internal processes, social responsibility and consumer awareness. At this level it is not acceptable for the company to manage in its inventory species in a state of threat (species not recommended- in red) or species whose capture is carried out with destructive fishing gear for the marine ecosystem, such as trawling, which which will be evaluated in 100% of its suppliers.

Wild product, fresh or frozen, imported

Level 2: Imported Silver, is applied to companies in which between 75 and 89.99% of the average volume of fish they sell meets the criteria of the principle of species conservation of their strategic suppliers. In addition, it must comply with all the criteria of the principles of responsible internal processes and consumer awareness. For this, 100% of its suppliers will be evaluated. It is not acceptable at this level for the company to manage in its inventory species whose capture is carried out with destructive fishing gear for the marine ecosystem, such as trawling. At this level the company can only manage up to 2% of its inventory with species classified as threatened (species not recommended-in red) provisionally during their first certification period.

Level 1: Imported Gold , applies to companies in which between 90 and 100% of the average volume of fish they sell meets the species conservation requirements of their strategic suppliers. In addition, it must meet all the criteria of the principles of responsible internal processes and consumer awareness. At this level, the company must not manage in its inventory species in a state of threat (species not recommended-in red) or species whose capture is carried out with destructive fishing gear for the marine ecosystem, such as trawling, which is will evaluate 100% of its suppliers. Failure to meet these criteria will affect the certification, either with rejection or cancellation in case it is identified in a follow-up audit.

Product of fresh or frozen culture, national or imported

The company that applies for the certification of its  farmed fish will receive a differentiated seal as a culture, with the denomination: “Responsible Fish Marketing, Culture Standard”, which will indicate that it is a product that meets minimum environmental responsibility criteria.

The company must build its compliance analysis database based on a series of principles and criteria considering the area of ​​​​evaluation to which it wishes to apply. These principles and criteria are listed below ( for further details see Standard Application Guide ).

Principle of conservation of fish species

The objective of this principle is to contribute to the conservation of fish species. The criteria and characteristics used to evaluate the implementation of this principle are divided according to the origin of the product into:

Wild fish, fresh or frozen, national:

• * Certainty of the identity of the species they trade.
• * Threat status of species.
• * Average size at maturity of the individuals of the commercialized species.
• *  Type of gear or technique used to catch fish.
• *  Respect for the temporary closures of the species.
• *  Respect for the capture areas of the species.

Wild fish, fresh or frozen, imported:

• * Certainty of the identity of the species they trade.
• * Threat status of species.
• *  Average size at maturity of the individuals of the commercialized species.
• *  Certification of productive activity.

Domestic fresh or frozen marine or freshwater farmed fish:

• *  Certainty of the identity of the species they trade.
• * Product growing areas.
• * Environmental responsibility in the origin of fingerlings.
• *  Control of introduced species.
• *  Food handling.
• *  Safety of the crop product.

Fresh or frozen freshwater or marine farmed fish, imported:

• *  Certification of productive activity.

Principle of responsible internal processes

The objective of the Principle of Responsible Internal Processes is to promote the generation of policies, practices and documentation within the company that ensure the proper application of the Standard. The company must also have activities that encourage environmental responsibility and awareness of staff and suppliers, requiring the latter to comply with the Species Conservation criteria.

The Principle of Responsible Internal Processes consists of six criteria:

• *  Compliance with national and international legislation for the commercialization of fish.
• *  Existence of a business environmental policy aimed at the conservation of fishing and aquaculture resources.
• *  Existence of a fish traceability program.
• * Training for workers and sensitization to strategic suppliers.
• * Program of internal audits/periodic evaluations that determine the environmental and social responsibility in the commercialization process.
• * Requirement for strategic fish suppliers to comply with responsible national fishing and farming criteria.

Consumer awareness principle

The objective of the Consumer Awareness Principle is the implementation of communication strategies, campaigns or actions that integrate promotional and educational activities to raise consumer awareness about the importance of conserving fish species through responsible consumption and marketing. .

The Consumer Awareness Principle consists of two criteria:

• *  Diagnosis of the responsible public.
• *  Awareness actions for clients and/or the general public.

Principle of social responsibility

With the Standard, the MarViva Foundation also seeks to influence general aspects of the fish marketing chain and increase the support that the company provides to communities of artisanal fishermen. This principle seeks to generate the development of relationships, agreements and strengthening activities with fishing communities that supply companies directly or indirectly.

The Principle of Social Responsibility consists of two criteria:

• *  Support for the strengthening of fishing communities and strategic suppliers with whom there is a direct or indirect commercial relationship.
• *  Existence of formal trade agreements with strategic suppliers that demand responsible purchasing criteria from fishermen.