A growing number of fisheries committed to environmentally sustainable practices are engaging with the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification and eco-labelling program. The 738 fisheries – an increase of 22 on the previous year - represent a fifth (20.6%) of the global wild marine catch. This growth is driven by rising global consumer and supply chain demand for sustainable seafood that meets rigorous, independently validated criteria.
According to the MSC's annual report, Working Together for Sustainable Seafood, fisheries involved in the program now account for 80% of the world's whitefish catch and 60% of the wild salmon catch. The MSC program sets strict environmental criteria to ensure healthy fish stocks, minimize harmful impacts on the ocean, and promote effective management.
Fisheries engaged in the MSC program, whether certified, in assessment, or part of the new Improvement Program, target more than 200 species of fish globally. Their commitment to sustainable harvesting practices helps contribute to the long-term health of the ocean.
The past year also saw an 8% increase in MSC-labelled seafood sold, reaching a total retail value of US$14 billion. This growing number of sustainable seafood products gives consumers the ability to choose options which help protect the ocean.
One notable area of growth has been in tuna fisheries. The MSC program now includes 203 tuna fisheries, with 300,000 tonnes of MSC-labelled tuna sold - a 30% increase from the previous year. Many of these fisheries have improved their sustainability practices, particularly by developing and implementing harvest strategies, which help to ensure the long-term health of tuna stocks.
This year, two significant milestones were achieved: the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) skipjack fishery, which targets the world's largest tuna stock, and the North Pacific albacore fishery successfully implemented rigorous harvest strategies.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC, said: "Sustainable fisheries provide the foundation for a resilient, healthy and productive ocean. With management, our oceans can continue to provide a precious and renewable source of low carbon nutritious protein for humanity for generations to come. It is therefore encouraging to see the continued and deepening engagement of both fisheries and the market in the MSC programme. We share the same vision.
"However, as the impacts of warming oceans become ever more apparent, it is vital that we all re-double our efforts to ensure global fisheries are managed on a sustainable basis. This will require action from all of us – the fishing industry, fishery management agencies, consumers and our political leaders and governments to set an enabling environment. Progress must accelerate if we are to see the delivery of the UN Agenda 2030 Goals by the end of this decade."
In addition to these achievements, the MSC's Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) awarded over $2.2 million in grants in 2024-25. These grants support fisheries on their pathway to sustainability and fund research and innovation to improve performance and contribute towards healthy stocks and seas.
The United Nations recognizes MSC-certified fisheries as contributors to ocean biodiversity, whilst sustainable fisheries are seen as a cornerstone of delivering the UN global target of ending overfishing.