OKAYAMA SETOUCHI OKUCHO
ROPE GROWN OYSTER FISHERY MSC CERTIFICATION

Okucho, a small town located near the Seto Inland Sea, has long been famous for its oyster production.

Lack of successors and declining oyster consumption has been causes of concern for the town. Under those circumstances, the stakeholders decided that obtaining internationally recognized certification for its oyster fishery could be beneficial for the community.

Maruto Suisan, a proccessing and distribution company of oyster, and Okucho Fisheries Cooperative Association teamed up to launch a project to obtain MSC certification in 2019

Based on MSC preassessment results, UMITO Partners developed a work plan to attain MSC certification. Improvement work included benthic and water quality monitoring and data recording and development of ETP species management plan.

By the end of the same year, Okucho Fisheries Cooperative Association became the first rope-grown oyster fishery to successfully obtain MSC certification in the world.

MSC certification full assessment process usually takes upward of 18 months; Okucho Fisheries Cooperative Association passed the assessment in a matter of 7 months.

In the following year the number of certified producers doubled. We continue to support their effort to promote MSC certified oyster.