The inshore anchovy fishery in Rui’an, Zhejiang, China has achieved certification to the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard, recognising its compliance with the most rigorous international standard for environmental sustainability in fisheries. The first MSC-certified inshore anchovy fishery in Asia, it is also the world’s only MSC-certified edible anchovy capture fishery.
This achievement, celebrated at the recent Asia-Pacific Aquatic Food Exhibition, marks a significant step toward the comprehensive sustainable management of small pelagic stocks in the East China Sea. The certified fishery is operated by Rui’an Huasheng Aquatic Products Co., Ltd., with 40 fishing vessels operating in accordance with relevant regulations, conducting fishing and processing operations, reflecting the industry’s collective and coordinated effort in advancing sustainable fishing practices.
The legal fishing season for the Rui’an anchovy fishery runs annually from 1 May to 15 June, with a total allowable catch capped at 3,500 tonnes. Anchovies are a core economic species in the East China Sea, and those from this fishery are mainly sold for human consumption. In Asian diets, anchovies are strongly associated with health and nutrition.
Rui’an inshore anchovy is widely recognized for its unique flavor, enjoying high market acceptance across East Asia. After obtaining the certification, the fishery will be able to respond to growing demand in global markets, where many buyers and consumers expect fisheries to be ecologically sound, responsibly managed, and to demonstrate genuine care for marine environmental protection.
Certification to the MSC Standard involves a rigorous, independent third-party assessment that evaluates the status of fish stocks, the impact of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem, and the effectiveness of enterprise and regional fishery management systems. Only fisheries that demonstrate stable species populations, minimized ecological impacts, and robust operational control and continuous improvement mechanisms are able to achieve certification.
This milestone also recognizes sustained effort and in-depth collaboration among businesses, universities, research institutions and industry stakeholders, as well as the fishery cooperative. In particular, the fishery received technical and theoretical guidance from Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The fishery has increased its investment in scientific research, implemented long-term dynamic resource monitoring, standardised fishing procedures and production control, and reduced its bycatch of non-target species. This progress not only strengthens the competitiveness of Chinese small-scale fisheries in international markets but also shows that it is possible to balance industrial development, resource protection and long-term marine ecological sustainability
Secretary-General of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association (CAPPMA), Wang Xueguang, said: “The East China Sea boasts abundant marine biological resources and plays a vital role in national food security and marine biodiversity conservation. The successful certification of the anchovy fishery further consolidates the sustainable development foundation of local fisheries.”
Chen Jingying, General Manager of Rui’an Huasheng Aquatic Products Co., Ltd., said: "Huasheng has always upheld standardized operations and resource conservation as core development philosophies. This MSC certification recognizes our long-term commitment. We will uphold higher operational standards and make continued efforts to protect marine fishery resources."