Abstract
The invasive alien Manila clam fishery from Ria Arousa, Spain, was recommended for a Marine Stewardship Council certificate which implies the fishery maintains the integrity of the ecosystem. By certifying an environmentally harmful invasive alien clam fishery, the MSC harms the environment and risks its credibility, at the time when environmental responsibility and social responsibility are increasingly important to policymakers, industry, and consumers, particularly in Europe. We call on the MSC to reassess their evaluation of the Ruditapes philippinarum fishery in Ria Arousa, Spain.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Auby I (1993) Evolution of the biologic richness in the Arcachon basin. Technical Report. Laboratory of Biologic Oceanography, Ifremer, p 222
Garaulet L (2011) Estabelecimento do bivalve exótico Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve, 1850) no estuário do Tejo: caracterização da população actual e análise comparativa com a congénere nativa Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758) e macrofauna bentónica acompanhante. Dissertation, University of Lisbon
Jacquet J, Pauly D, Ainley D, Holt S, Dayton P, Jackson J (2010) Seafood stewardship in crisis. Nature 467(7311):28–29
Jensen AC, Humphreys J, Caldow RWG, Grisley C, Dyrynda PEJ (2004) Naturalization of the Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum), an alien species, and establishment of a clam fishery within Poole Harbour, Dorset. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 84:1069–1073
Mura L, Cossu P, Cannas A, Scarpa F, Sanna D, Dedola GL, Floris R, Lai T, Cristo B, Curini-Galletti M, Fois N, Casu M (2012) Genetic variability in the Sardinian population of the manila clam, Venerupis philippinarum. Biochem Syst Ecol 41:74–82
Pranovi F, Franceschini G, Casale M, Zucchetta M, Giovanardi O, Torricelli P (2006) An ecological imbalance induced by a non-native species: the Manila clam in the Venice Lagoon. Biol Invasions 8:595–609
Roheim C, Asche AF, Santos JI (2011) The Elusive Price Premium for Ecolabelled Products: evidence from Seafood in the UK Market. J Agric Econ 62:655–668
Toupoint N, Godet L, Fournier J, Retiere C, Olivier F (2008) Does Manila clam cultivation affect habitats of the engineer species Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766)? Mar Poll Bull 56:1429–1438
Ward T, Phillips B (2008) Seafood ecolabelling: principles and practice. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford
Acknowledgments
The research leading to these results has received partial funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement No. 266445 for the project Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors (VECTORS).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Galil, B.S., Genovesi, P., Ojaveer, H. et al. Mislabeled: eco-labeling an invasive alien shellfish fishery. Biol Invasions 15, 2363–2365 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0460-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0460-9