Friend of the Sea is a program of the World Sustainability Organization, to protect aquatic habitats. This objective is achieved also by means of the Friend of the Sea certification of sustainable seafood, shipping, whale watching, UVCreams and aquaria. The Friend of the Sea standard is recognized by national accreditation bodies and audits are carried out on-site by independent certification bodies. Over 10 years, the Friend of the Sea certification greatly contributed to the development of the sustainable seafood movement and via corrective actions reduced mortality of endangered species, stimulated improvement in fish stocks' managements, promoted appropriate waste management and social accountability. In addition, the World Sustainability Organization has dedicated to development and support of conservation projects and campaigns, such as: a campaign to prevent ship strikes; a project for the repopulation of sturgeons in Italy; reef propagation in Fiji; protection of albatross from longlines; protection of monk seal; fish welfare in aquaculture.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
SHIPPING
- Reduce invasive aquatic species introduction
- Management of ship-based pollution and/or port waste management
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Type of commitment
- Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
- Reduction and elimination fishing practices and gear that destroy/degrade marine habitat
- Science-based fisheries management plans
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
- Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
- Eco-labelling, traceability, certification programmes
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
Type of commitment
- Access and capacity building for eco-labelling and traceability systems
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
- Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
12/2019
Reduce waste from fishing vessels in Friend of the Sea project by 20%
12/2019
Fish Welfare in Aquaculture. Implementation in 50 Friend of the Sea aquaculture companies
12/2019
Double spread of Friend of the Sea certification and consequent benefits for aquatic species
12/2019
Motivate aquaria to reduce their impact on the aquatic habitat
