About
Questions? Email us at fishgov@wffmail.com.
The Fisheries Governance Tool (FGT) was developed based upon a thorough review of existing evaluation and assessment schemes and builds upon many that are currently available, such as those used for certification to inform markets and indices that measure fishery performance. It is designed upon the premise that the most comprehensive and revealing measure of performance can be found at the intersection of three components: 1) the laws and policies governing fisheries, 2) the capacity to implement those policies, and 3) the function and performance of the fisheries themselves.
The FGT puts power in the hands of managing agencies, environmental organizations, funders/investors, and other key stakeholders. With the tool, multiple users can track progress against clear measures over time and identify gaps and other challenges that impede continued improvement. Importantly, the FGT allows stakeholders to identify the objectives set in their country’s own policy and management plans and track progress in relation to those, rather than against an external standard that may not be relevant or that their country may never be able to meet.
MRAG Americas led the development of this work and engaged in a peer review workshop and subsequent user review of the tool to ensure sound theory, approach and application. This work was made possible with support from the Walton Family Foundation.
About MRAG
MRAG Americas, Inc. is a U.S.-based independent private consulting and auditing company specializing in the conservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems through responsible, rational and sustainable use of fish and other aquatic living resources. Our staff of scientists and specialists have expertise in the assessment, management, and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems; evaluation and benchmarking of governance and management systems; fisheries, aquaculture and seafood supply-chain certification; fisheries observer and electronic monitoring programs; and international conservation and management agreements. For more information, visit mragamericas.com.
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. We believe that those who are closest to a challenge are often closest to its solution. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org.
About ProsperSpark
ProsperSpark developed the FGT Excel tool. ProsperSpark is passionate about automating processes and making people’s lives easier. We provide top-notch consulting on all things Excel. We also provide professional consulting for business analysis, management consulting, process improvement, Airtable development, and process automation (like Zapier).