ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY
EVALUATION OF SEAFOOD (ESES)
Background:
Human consumption of both wild caught and farmed seafood connects us with the marine
environment. The decisions that fishermen, farmers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers make all
influence the health of the marine ecosystems from which seafood products are harvested. To ensure
that ecologically sustainable seafood will always be harvested without adversely impacting or
threatening the existence of commercial fish stocks, damaging the environment and/or incidentally
having a negative impact on other species or habitats, ecological sustainability must be a high priority
for all businesses that deal directly with these products.
WWF-Australia is working with businesses to help them make the transition towards sourcing and
stocking only ecologically sustainable seafood products. WWF’s market partners have committed to
improving the sustainability of the seafood supply chain and only sourcing seafood that is either MSC
Certified (Marine Stewardship Council), ASC Certified (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) or has
otherwise met WWF’s standards. To help businesses transition to supplying sustainable seafood,
WWF-Australia has developed a scientifically based business-to-business tool, the ‘Ecological
Sustainability Evaluation of Seafood’ (ESES).
What is the ESES (and what is it not)?
The ESES is a business-to-business tool used to assess the ecological sustainability of seafood products
commercially harvested throughout the world and sold in Australia. It informs businesses about the
ecological risks posed by their choice of which seafood to supply to the market. It does not certify
seafood products as sustainable and it is not an eco-label.
Each ESES assessment determines the ecological risks associated with a product from a fishery or
aquaculture operation according to standards set out in the assessment by WWF. The assessment
results give each product a risk score reflecting the impacts on ecological sustainability from its
harvest. WWF-Australia helps businesses work with their suppliers to improve the ecological
sustainability of their operations and/or sourcing policies.
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia) ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au
Products with a ‘low risk’ score are from fisheries or aquaculture operations that can be considered as
potential candidates for the pre-assessment phase of the MSC or ASC certification processes. Products
already having MSC and ASC certification are classified as ‘low risk’.
Key features of the ESES:
1) Independent (all assessments are conducted by external non-WWF experts)
2) Scientifically-based
3) Robust and detailed
4) Assessments are peer-reviewed by expert third parties
5) Assesses both imported and domestically harvested species
6) Species and fishery specific/aquaculture operation specific
7) Assesses the ecological risks associated with seafood harvest, not limited only
to the impact of harvest on the individual target stock or species
8) Does not replace the MSC or ASC standard
9) Not an eco-label
ESES Assessment Process for Wild Caught Fisheries:
Fisheries that threaten the existence of fish stocks, damage the environment and have a negative
impact on other species cannot be considered ecologically sustainable. The FAO Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries calls for the sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems and requires that fishing be
conducted with due regard for the environment. The Code of Conduct also promotes the maintenance
and conservation of biodiversity of ecosystems by minimising fisheries impacts on non-target species
and the system in general.
Using the ESES framework, each wild-caught seafood product is identified by its species, fishery, gear
type and origin. Each product is then assessed using four principles encompassing 19 assessment
criteria:
Principle 1
(Knowledge) uses three criteria that assess the level of understanding of the ecology of the assessment
and other species (includes life history, biology, distribution, population dynamics etc), its role in the
ecosystem, and the state of the knowledge of potential interactions with threatened, endangered and
protected (TEP) species.
Principle 2
(Status) uses four criteria that assess the stock structure and abundance, and whether the stock status
is sufficient to maintain or enhance long-term fishery productivity.
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia) ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au
Principle 3
(Interactions) uses five criteria to assess the nature and extent of by-catch and interaction with TEP
species; and the effects of fishing practices on habitats and ecosystems. In order for a fishery to be
considered ecologically sustainable, the fishery must use techniques that eliminate, or at a bare
minimum mitigate, interactions with non-target species, and have harvest strategies that conserve the
biological diversity and community structure of the surrounding ecosystem.
Principle 4
(Management) uses seven criteria to assess the overall effectiveness of the current management
process and mechanisms. Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) aims to achieve sustainable
exploitation of natural resources by balancing the social and economic needs of human communities
with the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.
Assessed by an independent fisheries expert, each criterion is assigned a score based on the ecological
risk for that criterion. The sum of scores for all criteria is then calculated, designating the specific
product an overall ecological risk score. If any individual criterion receives a high risk score for a
product or if the species being assessed is considered threatened, endangered or protected (TEP), the
product is automatically assessed as having a high risk score overall.
Definitions of the scoring categories:
High risk scores
Medium risk scores
Low risk scores
The harvesting of these products is having a detrimental impact on the species,
population and/or ecosystem. Alternative products should be sourced failing
immediate changes to the management of the fishery or aquaculture operation.
There are some concerns about the harvesting of these products and the
management of potential ecological risks. Products can be continued to be sourced
provided improvement plans to address concerns are put in place.
There are no or only very minor concerns about the harvesting of these products.
Products in this category should be preferentially sourced by suppliers.
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia) ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au
After the assessment process for seafood products that a particular business deals with has been
completed, WWF works with business partners to encourage their suppliers to reduce the ecological
risks of their products through fisheries improvement projects and progress towards MSC
certification.
ESES Assessment Process for Aquaculture Products:
Global fish production from aquaculture has grown rapidly during the last 40 years. Aquaculture now
accounts for 46% of the world’s food-fish and this is expected to reach 50% in 2015 (FAO 2010).
A large proportion of demand for seafood will be met by aquaculture now and in the future and it is
imperative that this industry develops and operates in an environmentally responsible manner. In
particular, frameworks need to be in place that support and require that aquaculture seafood
production:
• does not put additional pressures on already over-exploited natural resources;
• does not pose any significant threat to the surrounding habitats, ecosystems and flora
and fauna populations, and
• is managed and regulated within appropriate frameworks.
Under the ESES framework, each aquaculture product specific to its species classification and
aquaculture operation is assessed under three guiding principals containing 15 assessment criteria:
Principle 1
(Sustainable Use of Resources) uses three criteria to assess whether the aquaculture operation is
exacerbating pressures on already over-exploited natural resources. Aquaculture production is driven
by the need to meet the world’s demand for seafood product in an environment where our wild capture
fisheries can no longer sustainably meet that need. Given that, a fundamental principle of aquaculture
must be that in its endeavours it does not create additional pressures.
Principle 2
(Interactions and impacts) uses eight criteria to assess whether the aquaculture operation, through
interaction or impact, is causing negative and long term effects on the local and/or regional
environment in which the aquaculture operation occurs.
Principle 3
(Management) uses four criteria to assess whether the aquaculture operation is established and
maintained within a system of environmental approvals, management and monitoring; and that these
are enforced through adequate compliance programs.
Assessed by an independent aquaculture expert, each criterion is assigned a score based on the
ecological risk for that criterion. The sum of scores for all criteria is then calculated, giving the specific
product an overall ecological risk rating. If any individual criterion receives a ‘high risk’ score, the
product is automatically given an overall ‘high risk’ score. If a product is already ASC certified, the
product receives a ‘low risk’ scoring.
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia) ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au
Definitions of the scoring categories:
High risk scores
Medium risk scores
Low risk scores
The farming of these products is having detrimental impacts on the species,
population and/or ecosystem. Alternative products should be sourced failing
immediate changes to the management of the fishery or aquaculture operation.
here are some concerns/issues about the farming of these products, and the
management of potential ecological risks. Products can continue to be sourced
provided improvement plans to address concerns and issues are put in place.
Low risk scores There are no or only very minor concerns/issues about the farming of
these products. Products in this category should be preferentially sourced by suppliers.
After the assessment process for seafood products that a particular business deals with has been
completed, WWF works with business partners to encourage their suppliers to improve the
sustainability of their products and work towards ASC accreditation.
PHOTO © BRIAN J. SKERRY / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STOCK/WWF
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia)
ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au
WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia) ABN: 57 001 594 074 | www.wwf.org.au