Marine Stewardship Council factsheet

It is a certification and eco-labelling program for sustainable seafood. Its aim is to transform the world's seafood markets and promote sustainable fishing practices.

MSC Environmental Standard

	MSC Eco-label

	Source: Marine Stewardship Council

The MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing is the standard that a fishery must meet to become certified.

It is based on 3 principles, and 31 performance indicators.

Only seafood from an MSC certified fishery can carry the blue MSC eco-label. The standard is science-based and applies to wild-capture fisheries – no matter their size, type or location.

It does not apply to farmed fish.

History about MSC

In 1997, the MSC was created as a result of two global organisations, WWF and Unilever, wanting to secure sustainable seafood supplies. The MSC has operated as an independent not-for-profit since 1999

The MSC environmental standard was developed following an international consultation with stakeholders between 1997 and 1999.

This consultation included eight regional workshops and two expert drafting sessions and involved over 300 organisations and individuals around the world. The standard is based on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and other international conservation instruments.

Who is using the MSC certificate?

In 2006/07 more than 400 retailers, restaurants and processors were trading MSC-labelled fish with a global retail value of over $500 million (US) – a 116% increase on the previous year. The figure now stands near $1 billion per year.

A number of retailers have issued commitments to sustainably managed fish, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Wal-Mart, who want all their fish sales to be MSC certified within five years. (Source: IGD, Ethical Shopping - Are Shoppers Turning Green? March 2008)

Certified fisheries are reporting benefits such as better prices, access to new markets and increased demand from suppliers.

UK companies that are stocking MSC certified seafood

ALDI
Asda
Birds Eye
Brakes
British Seafood
Budgens

Compass Group / Wellcome Trust
Co-op
Duchy Selections
LIDL
Marks & Spencer
Morrisons

Pret-a-Manger
Sainsbury's
Somerfield
Tesco
Waitrose
Young's Seafood

Full list of MSC labelled seafood in shops and restaurants in the UK

Fisheries taking part

The number of fisheries taking part in the MSC certification program has increased 4 times over since 2006, according to the MSC. In the first 10 years of the MSC, 42 fisheries around the world were certified as sustainable.

Certified fish has grown very rapidly over recent years and the fisheries at some stage of the MSC programme now represent approximately 8% of the world’s edible fish catch.

The MSC state that: ‘Every year more fisheries are announcing that they want to get certified to show they are sustainable and well managed.’

Fisheries in numbers

239: Fisheries engaged in the MSC program
102: Certified fisheries
137: Fisheries in assessment
Another 40 to 50 fisheries are in confidential pre-assessment.

Seafood in the MSC program

Together, fisheries already certified or in full assessment record annual catches of close to 7 million metric tonnes of seafood. This represents over 12% of global capture production for direct human consumption.

The fisheries already certified catch close to 4 million metric tonnes of seafood. This is over 7% of the total global capture production for direct human consumption.

Worldwide, more than 8,000 seafood products, which can be traced back to the certified sustainable fisheries, bear the blue MSC ecolabel.

How to become MSC certified

To become MSC certified, fisheries voluntarily agree to undergo an independent, third-party assessment by an accredited certifier and team of independent experts.

The team gathers and analyses the best scientific data, and makes it available to anyone who registers an interest (such as government agencies, conservation groups and scientists). At the end of the consultation process, the team recommends whether or not the fishery meets the three core principles of the MSC standard and a report is published on this website for anyone to read and even object to before the team issues a final assessment and report on the fishery.

The 3 core principles of the standard are:

Sustainability of the target fish stock
Minimising environmental impact
Effectiveness of the fishery management system

Source: MSC website

If the certifier confirms that the fishery meets the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing then – subject to Chain of custody traceability certification – that fishery can apply to use the MSC label on its products.

How long is each certificate valid for?

Every fishery is assessed on a case by case basis. When a fishery meets the MSC standard for sustainable fishing its certificate is valid for 5 years.

During this period the fishery will be visited at least once a year to check that it continues to meet the MSC standard.

After 5 years, the fishery must be reassessed if it wants to remain in the program.

Once a fishery has been certified, all companies in the supply chain – from boat to plate – must have MSC Chain of Custody certification. This assures consumer of traceability and also ensures that only seafood from certified fisheries carries the MSC's bold, blue eco-label.

Related Internet links:

- Marine Stewardship Council homepage
- View the MSC annual report for 2007/08
- View the MSC vision and mission statement, and a video about the MSC and its work with its members