With growing demand for fishmeal and fish oil from various sectors including aquaculture, nutraceuticals and pet food, responsible sourcing is imperative and underlined by scientists as a critical component of environmental footprint calculation: the variation in the environmental footprint within a single type of feed—based on its geographical sourcing—is often far greater than the difference between two different feed types. Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) have emerged as a practical solution to bridge the gap between local practices in some regions where fisheries do not meet current global standards, and internationally recognised standards reflecting global market expectations. Without collaboration among governments, industry, and NGOs, progress risks stagnation. 

FIPs can transform supply chains for the better at the fishery level - both from environmental and social perspectives - and marine ingredients factories can continue the improvement journey at the production level by engaging in certification programmes. The Panama small pelagic fishery successfully transitioned from a FIP in 2022 and the Ecuador small pelagic fishery is currently undergoing the same process. In regions with limited regulatory oversight and low enforcement, the private sector has to step in and commit to voluntary improvement programmes to meet global market demand. 

Still, scepticism persists. Are FIPs enough to combat overfishing and habitat degradation? Critics argue that without binding commitments, these programmes risk becoming mere marketing tools. To counter this, measurable outcomes and independent audits must be non-negotiable, which is the value proposition of Improver Programmes such as MarinTrust or MSC’s. 

Ultimately, FIPs are a strong signal that fishery management is not out of reach in any regions. Markets can create a positive force to encourage regulators to act and exert their sovereign rights.