In cooperation with WWF and using MSC methodology, the ESKO FLAG coordinated a study for small-scale fishermen into the sustainability of their fishing activities.

Questions had been raised in recent years about the sustainability of fishing activities in the Gulf of Finland. Indeed, WWF’s annual consumer guide blacklisted the main types of fish caught in this area, especially salmon and whitefish, as species to avoid buying. This, added to the general crisis in the fisheries sector, was contributing to increasing difficulties to maintain traditional small-scale fishing activities locally. However, small-scale fishermen believed their way of fishing was sustainable and contacted the WWF to discuss the problem. After meeting the local fishermen, the WWF suggested they assess their practices using the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standards for sustainability and the FLAG agreed to coordinate this. A research project, based on the widely-accepted MSC method, was carried out by a third party organization and led by a steering group including fisheries representatives, environmental organizations  (WWF) and a leading research institute. It covered all the fishing methods used in the area (nets and traps) and all 6 usual fish species (perch, pike, pikeperch, whitefish, salmon and roach). The report was published at the end of February 2014, presented in the same way as official MSC reports following the MSC standardized assessment tree. A conference was also organized in April 2014 to present and communicate its findings.