Fishery improvement projects, better known as FIPs, are a pragmatic, stepwise approach to enhancing the

sustainability of a fishery, encouraging harvesting to continue, while continual improvements are achieved.

FIPs bring together an alliance of seafood buyers, retailers, processors, suppliers, producers, and non-

governmental organizations (NGOs) with an interest in a specific fishery to encourage improvements in policy

and management at government level. At the same time, FIPs provide motivation for changes to be made to

working practices at fishery level, minimizing issues such as illegal fishing, bycatch, and environmental impacts.

Each FIP presents a different challenge, but the common thread is that the supply chain plays a critical role in

helping a fishery on the journey toward sustainability. Sometimes a FIP works toward third-party certification,

and sometimes it simply addresses priority issues facing the fishery. Whatever the long-term aim, all FIPs follow

a structured path that takes into account the needs of both the fishery and the stakeholders involved.

From tentative beginnings, FIPs are fast becoming valuable tools that are helping businesses to reduce

the risk to their reputation and enhance the long-term security of seafood supplies.