MSC methodologies
The MSC standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability are both supported by MSC methodologies. When certifiers are carrying out assessments against either standard, the methodologies establish how to assess the fishery or business against the relevant standard.
The MSC standards and methodologies ensure that only seafood from a certified sustainable fishery is sold with the MSC ecolabel and meet the world's best practice guidelines for certification and ecolabelling.
What are the aims of the MSC methodologies?
The MSC methodologies:
- Set out how the standards should be interpreted by certifiers conducting assessments
- Ensure that the performance of fisheries and businesses against the MSC standards is properly assessed during assessments
- Ensure that all assessments against an MSC standard are carried out consistently, irrespective of where, when and by whom the assessment is carried out.
What are the MSC methodologies?
Sets out the steps that accredited certifiers must take to assess a fishery against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing.
MSC Fisheries Assessment Methodology
Sets out how the MSC standard for sustainable fishing should be interpreted when assessing fisheries for MSC certification.
MSC Chain of Custody Certification Methodology
Sets out how accredited certifiers should assess organisations in the supply chain against the MSC Chain of Custody standard, to ensure that the supply chain for MSC certified seafood is secure.
TAB Directives, Policy Advisories and further guidance
The MSC regularly issues additional requirements and guidance to clarify elements of the MSC methodologies. TAB (Technical Advisory Board) Directives are approved by the MSC’s Technical Advisory Board while Policy Advisories and other guidance documents are issued by the MSC.
All MSC documents
View and download all MSC documents in the MSC document centre.
