The new quick and easy to use tool will enable buyers to make informed and evidence based choices when buying seafood.
RASS is needed to complement the other schemes that are currently available, such as the Marine Conservation Society's good/bad choice list and data from the ICES.
However, RASS is different to these other schemes as it has no overall rating. Instead, the tool uses risk scores for four different factors:
- Stock staus
- Stock management
- Habitat impact
- Bycatch
The tool strives to be simple, transparent and scaleable, meaning that even an individual boat can be analysed.
"The RASS will contain no instruction as to whether the fish should be bought or not, but instead provides information so that buyers can assess and make their own informed decisions," said Dr Pickerell.
The tool also hopes to drive change and new technology as boats strive to be better, bringing on new technology, i.e, to reduce bycatch, and through giving a good Gap Analysis of data deficient fisheries.
There is now also a phase two of the project underway. The second phase is looking to expand the RASS tool to include aquaculture, social and ethical factors and seafood facts, such as, nutrition.
