What is the Marine Stewardship Council?
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.
Seafood is important for millions of people. The trouble is, our oceans are being seriously overfished. Unless action is taken some of our favorite fish may disappear from the seafood counter altogether. And it’s not just our supper that’s at stake: overfishing is damaging fishing industries and marine environments around the world. The MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organization which was set up to find a solution to the problem of overfishing. The MSC was first established by Unilever, the world’s largest buyer of seafood, and WWF, the international conservation organization, in 1997. In 1999 they became fully independent from both organizations and today are funded by a wide range of organizations including charitable foundations and corporate organizations around the world. The MSC spent two years developing their environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. This standard was put together following worldwide consultation with scientists, fisheries e
