The recent statements that the MSC certification of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska flatfish fishery is “greenwashing” are misinformed. The MSC certification program considers stakeholders as essential participants during fishery assessments. Their perspectives, knowledge, and experience help ensure that fisheries are assessed with a full understanding of real-world impacts and current information.

Assessment against the MSC Fisheries Standard is designed to be open and inclusive to the public, welcoming input from anyone who wishes to provide information. Stakeholders can register with the independent auditor conducting the assessment, known as the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). Those registered stakeholders are then notified throughout the process when public comments are being accepted.

To achieve MSC certification, a fishery must go through annual audits and a re-assessment every five years. The audits and assessment process requires the CAB to score the fishery against the MSC Fishery Standard’s three principles of sustainability:

1. Sustainable fish stocks: Fishing must be conducted at a level that ensures the fish population can continue indefinitely and remain productive and healthy.
2. Minimal environmental impact: Fishing activity must be managed carefully to protect other species and habitats within the ecosystem.
3. Effective management: Fisheries must comply with relevant laws and have a management system that allows them to respond quickly to changes in the status quo.

To support transparency and accessibility, CABs publish assessment and audit schedule announcements and the resulting determination documents on the MSC “Track a Fishery” website. Organizations that were contacted for the public consultation periods are clearly identified in the documents —so stakeholders can see how and when their voices helped shape the assessment. The list of stakeholders  consulted during the Alaska flatfish fishery assessment is listed in the “ Final Draft Report and Determination”.

MSC does not make fishery certification decisions and receives no funding from the assessment or certification of a fishery. The MSC is an independent non-profit, independent certification program that requires qualified and experienced third-party assessors (CABs) to conduct an evaluation against the MSC Fishery Standard. The MSC does provide a trademarked ecolabel for use on products from certified fisheries for which MSC receives royalties if companies choose to use it; it is 100% voluntary.     

The Alaska flatfish fishery completed its third re-assessment on December 16, 2025, and was recertified marking over fifteen years of certification against the MSC standard. During that time, the fishery has made continuous improvements to maintain its certification, including developing innovative bycatch avoidance methods and minimizing benthic habitat disturbance with detailed and extensive habitat maps combined with a mandatory vessel monitoring system, meeting all three principles of the MSC Fisheries Standard. The Alaska flatfish fishery is an “ Amendment 80” fleet and thus governed through the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the North Pacific Marine Fisheries Council’s open, public process.

Stakeholders can reach out to the CAB involved in the Alaska flatfish fishery assessment, in this case MRAG Americas, to get involved in the process. The MSC team is also available to answer questions or to learn how to engage; please contact Wyatt Rhea-Fournier, Alaska Fisheries Outreach Manager ( [email protected]) or Jackie Marks, Sr. Communications and PR Manager ([email protected]).