Topic

The Monterey Framework: Defining Social Responsibility in the Seafood Sector

What is the Monterey Framework?

In 2017, environmental practitioners, human and labor rights advocates, academics, and industry representatives co-developed a definition of socially responsible seafood that was published in Science and named “The Monterey Framework.”

The Monterey Framework is an actionable consensus framework based on three main principles:

Learn more about the Monterey Framework:

  • The Monterey Framework for Social Responsibility – Overview (PDF)
  • Committing to Socially Responsible Seafood (Kittinger et al. 2017, Science)
  • Actioning the Monterey Framework: Stories from Around the World (PDF)

Actioning the Monterey Framework: The Social Responsibility Assessment Tool

Co-developed as a collaborative resource by more than two-dozen organizations, the Social Responsibility Assessment (SRA) Tool is a risk assessment tool designed to move the Monterey Framework into actionable guidance aimed at improving working conditions and wellbeing for fishers and communities. The risk assessment is an essential piece of a broader human rights due diligence (HRDD) strategy, and the results are a key input into a broader HRDD strategy.

The SRA is used to assess risks of social issues, uncover critical information gaps, and identify areas in need of improvement. The SRA is designed to be flexible to accommodate a range of seafood production models, from artisanal and industrial fisheries to seafood processors and fish farms. It can be especially valuable when informing the development of a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) workplan. The SRA can even be used by brands and retailers when developing their seafood sourcing and supply chain engagement strategies.

The indicators and scoring guideposts used to build this tool combine existing certification and ratings practices for social issues in seafood. The SRA integrates all relevant International Labour Organization conventions, international protocols and standards encompassing treatment of fishermen, safety practices, and access to food and first aid, among other key rights and needs. The SRA is informed by:

  • The Certification and Ratings Collaboration Framework on Social Responsibility for the Seafood Sector (Opal 2018);
  • Guidance for Incorporating Socioeconomic Factors into Fishery Improvement Projects (SFP 2018);
  • And encompasses criteria from: SSRT, FTUSA, Clearview, Seafish RVFS, ASC, SFTF, Naturland, BSCI, FishSource, IFFO RS, GRASP, FOTS, BAP, SFP, IPNLF, and Thai Gap, among others.

The SRA tool is not a certification, but it can be used to identify and make improvements that could complement certification to another social program.

For more details on the SRA and how to implement, visit the Social Responsibility Assessment Tool page.

Learn more about the SRA tool:

ELEVATE manages revisions of the SRA and provides training and materials around the use of the tool. If you have any questions on the SRA, please contact ELEVATE at SRAsupport@elevatelimited.com.

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