MSC in Austria, Germany, Switzerland

Fisheries

In October 2008, the German North Sea saithe fishery, operating from Cuxhaven, became the first fishery in the German-speaking countries to become certified against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. Besides saithe, the producer organisation also targets cod in the eastern Baltic Sea and received MSC Certification for these operations in August 2011. ‘Küstenfischer Nord eG Heiligenhafen’, another producer organisation targeting cod in the eastern Baltic Sea, became the third MSC certified German fishery in October 2011. Six more German fisheries are currently undergoing assessment for MSC certification, including four blue shell mussel fisheries. Furthermore, German brown shrimp fishers in the North Sea and the herring fishery in the Western Baltic Sea have applied for MSC Certification.

Supply chain

There are a number of seafood companies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland currently certified for Chain of Custody and eligible to use the MSC label on fish and seafood products. They include many of the leading companies trading in white fish, salmon and herring. The demand for fish and seafood from MSC certified fisheries is high and seafood companies aim to broaden their range of MSC labelled products to meet market demand. Use our search tool to find a supplier.

Retail and brands

Some brands and producers such as Bofrost, Deutsche See, Eismann, Friedrichs, Frosta and Iglo have long supported the MSC’s cause and offer a good range of MSC labelled products. They have been joined by a number of others including Appel Feinkost, Femeg, followfish, Friesenkrone, Hawesta, Homann, Mare, Nadler, Paulus, Pickenpack, Popp, Royal Greenland, Rügen Feinkost, Rügen Fisch, Schwaaner Fischwaren, Stührk Delikatessen who wish to offer their customers a certified sustainable choice.

Discount stores Aldi, Lidl, Netto and Penny offer a range of MSC labelled products, some of which are distributed in other European countries. While retailers, Edeka, Globus, Hit, Kaufland, real, Rewe, tegut are gradually increasing their range. The first independent fishmonger to become certified in Germany was Bodes F.L. in Bremen. By October 2011, there were six MSC certified fishmongers in Germany.

In Switzerland, Coop and Migros have long been great supporters of the MSC. Both retailers support the MSC through sourcing policies and continue to broaden their range of fish and seafood items carrying the MSC's blue eco label. Thanks to Coop and Migros, Switzerland was for many years the country with the highest number of MSC labelled fish and seafood products in the world. More recently, further retailers and brands in Switzerland have launched MSC labelled products. Today, consumers can find the MSC label on products from Bianchi, Coraya, Dyhrberg, Findus, Friedrichs, Globus, Marinex, Mövenpick and others.

In Austria, a number of companies offer a growing range of MSC labelled products, among them Appel, Eismann, Eisvogel, Elfin, Frosta, Gottfried Friedrichs, Hofer, Iglo, Lidl, Rewe Group, Schenkel’s Spar, Warhanek and Youkon.

Foodservice

A fast growing number of players in the German foodservice market are continuously partnering with MSC. This includes the suppliers side as well as those offering MSC certified fish on a menu. Large foodservice wholesalers and processors, amongst them FROSTA Foodservice, Transgourmet, Metro and some regions of Edeka C&C, are in the MSC program. They, along with middle and small sized wholesalers, prepare the ground for further partners, like restaurants, to also join MSC. In recent months, all over Germany, many caterers, restaurants and student unions across more than 33 universities have decided to become certified according to the MSC traceability standard currently. Across Germany nearly 80 restaurants and canteens offer a continuously growing range of MSC certified products.

Find out how your company can get involved in the MSC program!