Fisheries don’t stop improving once they become MSC certified. They make a long-term commitment to sustainability and to keep up with global best practice.
Why do MSC certified fisheries need improving?
While fisheries must be performing at a high level to be MSC certified, there is often room for improvement. To be certified as sustainable, fisheries must score an average of at least 80 out of 100 for each of the MSC Fisheries Standard’s three principles: sustainable stocks, environmental impacts, and effective management.
Each principle of the Fisheries Standard is made up of 28 indicators. If a certified fishery scores less than 80/100 on an individual indicator, it will be set a ‘condition of certification’ by the independent assessor. The fishery must then implement a plan of action to make improvements that will bring it up to global best practice. If conditions are not met within the certification period (usually 5 years), the fishery is suspended from the MSC program.
Over 95% of certified fisheries have successfully completed at least one condition. Conditions drive continual improvement towards global best practice in fisheries sustainability.
What improvements have been made?
Completing one condition can lead to a wide range of improvements. By March 2021, MSC certified fisheries had recorded 1,958 different improvements.
Sometimes, one action produces multiple improvements. For example, modifying gear types could reduce bycatch of a range of species.
In the last three years, MSC certified fisheries have made 372 improvements, including:
 | 134 improvements benefiting endangered, threatened, and protected species, and reducing bycatch |
 | 101 improvements benefiting stock status and harvest strategies |
 | 71 improvements benefiting fishery management, governance, and policy |
 | 66 improvements benefiting ecosystems and habitats |
FAQs
Curious about other aspects of the MSC? Check out our most frequently asked questions.