Ocean at risk

The ocean is also home to an extraordinary variety of life. Much of this life is essential to sustaining people’s livelihoods and ensuring food security, as millions rely on fish as their primary source of protein.

Sources: *UN FAO(2026), ** WWF, ***UN FAO (2025)

The risks to ocean health

Seafood is our last major food source that’s truly wild, and it provides food security for millions of people around the world who rely on it as their primary source of protein. Seafood is also vital to the livelihoods of fishermen and fishing communities around the world. 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's 2025 Review of the state of world marine fishery resources, 37.6% of stocks are fished at biologically unsustainable levels.

The size of marine populations declined by 56% between 1970 and 2020, according to WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report 2024.

Key factors contributing to the problem are overfishing, illegal and destructive fishing, and climate change. It’s not just the loss of species and ecosystems; the problem also has a serious impact on communities.

What is the MSC doing?

We work with fisheries, scientists, and industry stakeholders to make sure our ocean is fished sustainably and that it’s easy for consumers to buy certified sustainable seafood. 

By choosing seafood products with the MSC blue fish label, you are supporting fishermen that take care of our oceans and sending a signal to other fisheries to do the same.