WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 26, 2025 - The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is proud to be featured in the American Fisheries Society’s (AFS) digital film series Tomorrow’s Catch: Securing our Future Fisheries produced in partnership with UK based strategic content creator, Content With Purpose (CWP). Over 50 short films were produced examining the complex challenges facing fisheries and celebrating the innovative solutions being developed to protect these vital ecosystems for future generations.
A preview of the series was screened at AFS’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this month. The full series launched online on August 26, 2025 at contentwithpurpose.co.uk/afs/tomorrowscatch/.
The MSC films spotlight the role of partnerships to keep our wild capture fisheries healthy and sustainable. Shellfish fisheries on the U.S. East Coast are facing challenges as ocean temperatures rise with surf clams moving into habitats once dominated by ocean quahogs, creating new challenges for fishers and regulators alike. Through data collection and collaborative research the clam and quahog fishery exemplifies adaptive management, which is a key component of the MSC third-party certification program.
“Strong partnerships are the foundation of thriving American fisheries and healthy ocean ecosystems.” said Marin Hawk, Senior Manager, US Fishery Partnerships at the Marine Stewardship Council. “Through Tomorrow’s Catch, we’re proud to celebrate the essential collaboration between fisheries, scientists and the MSC using the Atlantic clam and quahog fishery as a shining example.”
With unprecedented climate pressures and mounting environmental threats - from plastic pollution and oil spills to invasive species and hydroelectric development - the future of aquatic ecosystems has never been more uncertain. Tomorrow’s Catch explores watershed restoration, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, the role of tribal hatcheries, next-generation talent and policy advocacy. It has been informed first-hand by a wide range of coastal and inland communities, fisheries, scientists, Indigenous leaders and industry experts, who are all working to achieve environmental conservation, food security, and cultural heritage.
Jeff Kopaska, Executive Director of AFS said: “This digital series powerfully reflects AFS’s mission to support the science, policy, and community engagement needed to address the complex challenges and solutions to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems. I am hopeful that Tomorrow’s Catch will help drive awareness and the urgency for collaborative action right now.”
Fisheries represent more than just fish; they are about clean water, resilient ecosystems, food security, and cultural connection. Through a combination of future-focused content, including short films and expert interviews, Tomorrow’s Catch spotlights inspiring people and organizations throughout the United States, Canada and internationally who are playing a transformative role in preserving marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Max Smith, Founder and Managing Director at Content With Purpose, said, “This series has been an incredible undertaking in storytelling from across North America and around the world. From Alaska and the Yukon to Texas and the arctic fisheries of Norway, it’s been a pleasure to help champion the work of inspiring people and organizations dedicated to advancing a more sustainable future for fisheries, aquatic ecosystems and the communities reliant on them.”
For researchers, resource managers, policymakers, and concerned citizens, this is an invitation to dive into fisheries science and stories driving a more sustainable future for our planet’s waters - and the communities that depend on them.
The series is available to watch at contentwithpurpose.co.uk/afs/tomorrowscatch