Brands and retailers are reinforcing their commitment to sustainability by evolving their sourcing strategies, particularly for small pelagic fish like sardines, herring, anchovies and mackerel, according to the MSC. MSC certified sustainable fisheries are reaping the rewards of these commitments as the number of products containing certified small pelagic fish has grown considerably in recent months.
A number of European brands and retailers are now sourcing MSC certified herring, including Swedish market-leader Abba, following the example of LIDL and IKEA. Kladesholmen, Ica and Axfood are also evolving their sourcing. In the UK, Princes is sourcing its mackerel products from an MSC certified fishery. These retailers and brands join German and Dutch companies such as Followfood, Fish Tales and Hawesta all of which have had longstanding commitments to source MSC certified small pelagics.
Growing demand for small pelagic fish both for human consumption and for feed meal markets means sustainable sourcing is vital to ensure responsible management of the fish stocks and future availability of these species to global seafood supply chains. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that in 2034 global fisheries and aquaculture production will be approximately 212 million tonnes, of which 192 million will be for human diets and 21 million for non-human consumption.
According to the MSC’s Small Pelagics Yearbook 2026, over 3 million metric tonnes of small pelagics were certified globally in 2025, representing 13% of global small pelagic catch.
Small pelagics play a vital role in our ocean’s ecosystems serving as the main food source for marine life. They also provide critical nutrition for human diets, and their mix of protein and omega-3 fatty acids makes them a valuable source for aquafeed and other marine ingredient uses.
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC’s Chief Program Officer, said: “Sustainability has never been so important in the decisions that brands, retailers and consumers make when purchasing seafood, and for small pelagics in particular. We are pleased these business leaders are choosing MSC to guide their seafood policies, helping safeguard seafood supplies for this and future generations.”
The Small Pelagics Yearbook 2026 outlines the challenges facing the species, such as the impacts of climate change on stock shift distributions and how this complicates quota sharing arrangements. It also provides an analysis of the global market for this species, highlighting the opportunities for sustainable supply. It showcases some exemplary case studies of resilient, certified small pelagic fisheries, like Gulf of Riga herring and the small pelagics fishery of Sonora, as well as the role of certification in supporting positive outcomes for people and planet.