The Sustainable Seafood Awards
The MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards recognize and celebrate MSC partner organizations and individuals making a significant contribution toward ensuring the sustainability of our seafood resources.
Proudly hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council in Canada and the US, these annual Awards showcase the leadership and innovation that help protect our oceans for future generations.
Submissions for the inaugural MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards - Canada & US will be open September 1 through October 31, 2026. Winners will be notified in January 2027.
For each award category, one Canadian and one US winner will be recognized.
Award summary
Award Criteria
Here you will find the criteria for each award category that the applicants will be judged against.
Submissions must pertain to activities conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2026, unless otherwise noted. You may include future planned work in your submission.
1. MSC Sustainable Seafood Retailer of the Year
This award goes to a retailer with the most significant commitment to MSC certified sustainable seafood, based on the following areas:
Has an up-to-date, robust, and ambitious seafood sourcing policy that prioritizes MSC certified and labeled seafood and includes categories beyond seafood that include marine ingredients. Key considerations include:
- Strength of sustainable sourcing policy and commitments
- Diversity in coverage across the store (private label, national brands, different categories, etc)
- Commitment or achievement of Chain of Custody at the store level
- Willingness and initiative to be a driver of change for the industry
- Strength of progress reporting against commitments
- Inclusion of the MSC Improvement Program fisheries in sourcing policy
Offers a diverse, growing range of MSC labeled products including private label and proprietary brands. Key considerations include:
- Amount of MSC labeled items offered (volume, # SKUs, # of species, # store categories)
- Percent growth over the last year
- Expansion into new categories e.g., pet food, health supplements, sushi
Is celebratory, informative, and visible about their MSC certified seafood range, commitment, and program. Key considerations include:
- MSC education on owned and external channels
- Participation in MSC-led campaigns e.g., World Ocean Day, Earth Month, National Seafood Month.
- Employee engagement efforts
- Participation in speaking engagements demonstrating commitment and pride in your MSC partnership.
- Demonstrated examples of spokespeople and organization ambassadors talking with pride and knowledge about the retailer’s MSC partnership.
2. New MSC certified Product of the Year
This award recognizes an MSC certified consumer-facing product launched in the last two years. Key considerations include:
The product and its sustainability features are being actively promoted or have secured plans to be. Key considerations include:
- Promotion and education on owned channels
- Communicates the story of their new product’s sustainability to consumers
- High impact / high reach outputs included in new product promotions, e.g., outdoor advertising, TV/streaming, PR/Media, etc.
- Participation in MSC-led campaigns e.g., World Ocean Day, Earth Month, National Seafood Month
- Collaborations with spokespeople, ambassadors, and collaborators e.g. influencer and content creator partners
3. MSC Sustainable Seafood Business of the Year
This award recognizes a supply chain business that’s committed to providing MSC certified sustainable seafood to their customers.
Has an up-to-date, robust, and ambitious seafood sourcing policy that prioritizes MSC certified and labeled seafood and other marine ingredients or products.
- MSC certification status and length of tenure
- Strength of sustainable sourcing policy and commitments
- Willingness and initiative to be a driver of change for the industry
- Strength of progress reporting against commitments
- Inclusion of the MSC Improvement Program fisheries in sourcing policy
- Actively promoting MSC partnership and MSC certified products to their customers and/or suppliers
- Active engagement with the MSC beyond certification
Is celebratory, informative, and visible about their MSC certified seafood range, commitment, and program. Key considerations include:
- Communicates and promotion on owned channels e.g. website, social media, customer emails
- Participation in MSC-led campaigns e.g., World Ocean Day, Earth Month, National Seafood Month, and others
- Activities supporting education and awareness of MSC certified fisheries or species
- Employee engagement efforts
4. MSC Fishery Improvement of the Year
This award recognizes an MSC certified or MSC Improvement Program fishery that achieved or implemented a significant sustainability improvement in 2026. The work may be part of a longer-term project, provided that significant progress, implementation, or measurable results occurred during the year.
5. MSC Changemaker of the Year
This award goes to an individual in the fishing community who catalyzed meaningful change by enabling, advancing, or supporting a fishery (or fisheries) through the MSC Certification or Improvement Program process in the 2026 calendar year. The award may not be presented every year if no nominee sufficiently meets the criteria listed below.
The significance of the improvement relative to the fishery’s previous performance and sustainability challenges, including evidence of implementation, measurable results, and lasting impact.
Improvements may relate to stock health, bycatch, habitat impacts, fishing practices, monitoring, data collection, management or governance.
6. MSC Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes an individual for a lifetime commitment to the sustainable wild-caught fishing and seafood movement. Nominees may come from any sector, including fishing, seafood businesses, science, Indigenous leadership, fisheries management, policy, conservation, academia, or community leadership. The award may not be presented every year if no nominee sufficiently meets the criteria. Key considerations include:
Winners will receive:
- International recognition as MSC Canada and US Sustainable Seafood Winners
- Physical award & certificate
- Unique marketing claim as an award winner
- Promotional toolkit with graphic assets to celebrate your award
- Media recognition for being an award winner
- PR and marketing collaboration opportunities for celebrating your win
Additional award information
Key dates
Applications and nominations for the Sustainable Seafood Awards US/Canada 2026 open for submission on September 1, 2026, and close on October 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific. Award winners will be announced in January 2027.
How to enter
Applications can be submitted online through a secure Jotform.
Applicants are encouraged to include a narrative, supporting materials, case studies, and anything else to support their entry. For assistance creating the most successful application, please review this guidance document.
Eligibility criteria
The awards are open to official MSC partners registered and based in the United States or Canada as well as individuals based in the United States and Canada who have made a significant contribution to the MSC vision and mission. You are eligible to receive an award for the country in which you are based or where your products are sold. More information on eligibility is listed within each category. Companies and individuals do not have to meet all criteria listed and will be evaluated based on information available in terms of meeting the criteria. We encourage all to apply, even if you do not meet all the criteria listed.
Prior award recipients are eligible to participate in the current award cycle. However, all applications will be evaluated solely on the information provided for the current evaluation year. Submissions must reflect accomplishments, outcomes, or data relevant to the current award period as defined in the program guidelines. Past achievements will not be considered unless they directly relate to activities or results from the current evaluation year.
Judging details
The MSC judging panel includes external seafood and sustainability experts from within the US and around the world. Judges will be announced late Summer 2026.
Terms and conditions
The MSC reserves the right to make changes to awards at any time including but not limited to changes on award categories, criteria, eligibility, and terms and conditions.
All decisions of the judging panel and/or the MSC regarding disqualification, eligibility, and winner selection are final and binding. The MSC and/or judging panel reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any participant or winner and to withdraw any award at any time. Disqualification may occur if:
- The applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements or terms and conditions.
- Entry or winning is found to be based on fraudulent information, deceptions, or other dishonest acts.
- The organization or staff engage in unsportsmanlike, abusive, or harassing conduct toward the MSC, MSC staff, judges, or other participants.
- Any other appropriate reason, as determined by the MSC and/or judging panel.
The MSC reserves the right to verify the eligibility of any applicant and to investigate any potential rules violation. In the event of a disqualification, the applicant or awardee will be notified, and an alternate winner may be selected in accordance with the judging criteria.
Stay up to date on the latest award news and get deadline reminders by subscribing to our newsletter.