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Every few years we review the MSC Standards so they remain relevant. Industry practices and scientific understanding evolve over time, so our Standards need to evolve too.
Our Standard reviews are consistent with best practice codes and guidelines provided by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ISEAL and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). These reviews engage academics, fellow NGOs, governments and industry.
Every five years, The Fisheries Standard Review (FSR) considers issues raised by stakeholders and data from our own monitoring and evaluation team. The aim of this review is to make sure scientific developments and fisheries management best practice are reflected in MSC certified fisheries.
This review might also look at what we call the scope of the Fisheries Standard: what types of fishing activity can be assessed to the Standard.
Every two to three years, we review the fishery assessment process, called the Fisheries Certification Requirements (FCR). This process reviews how academics, fellow NGOs, governments and industry are involved in fishery assessments. We also look at improving the efficiency of the assessment process.
Hundreds of people have been involved in shaping our Standards. Your expertise and insights can contribute to the development of the MSC Fisheries and Chain of Custody Standards. There are two main ways to get involved in the Standard development process – you can identify an issue, or you can give feedback on an issue that's open for consultation.
If there is some way you think our Standards or our certification system need to develop, please send us an email with as much detail as possible to standards@msc.org.
We carefully assess every issue and decide if and when it enters into our development process.
It takes time to make modifications to our Standards. Reasonable timeframes need to be allowed to give the issue due consideration and consultation, and ensure any changes are tested and implemented.
We also need to monitor and evaluate any changes that are introduced to make sure implementation is successful in achieving the intended outcome.
To make sure fisheries can adapt to changes they must be given time. The MSC is committed to the FAO Ecolabeling guidelines. These state that fisheries are given at least three years to adapt to changes to the Standard.
There are two main consultation periods each year where we ask for your feedback on our Standards, around March and September. These periods can be 30 or 60 days in length.
We are reviewing the Chain of Custody Standard and Certification Requirements. The aim of this review is to improve the accessibility, efficiency and consistency of the Chain of Custody program, and to make Chain of Custody work better for companies and certification bodies. The open consultations relate to the following program developments:
When a consultation is open, we will email interested stakeholders. If you would like to be notified when consultation opens, please email standards@msc.org to be added to our mailing list. You can give your feedback on the project proposals in the consultation through an online survey. The survey is linked to from the MSC program improvements website along with all the resources you need to understand the project development.
You can always talk to the project lead if you need information and insights into the program development. Their contact details will be posted on the MSC program improvements website.
MSC staff consider every response we receive as we develop proposals. Your responses are read by the Technical Advisory Board and inform their recommendations.
All responses we receive on a program development are published anonymously on the MSC program improvements website.
We also provide a summary response on key issues raised. At the end of the project we will provide evaluation of process including summary of how main feedback themes were incorporated into revisions.
Search through the consultations that have helped develop the MSC Standards.
The Seaweed Standard is a joint venture with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and was launched in 2017. The ASC–MSC Seaweed Standard is the first international seaweed Standard to incorporate United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) guidelines and followed the ISEAL Standard Setting Code of Good Practice. The Standard was developed in consultation with academics, scientists, industry experts and conservation groups.
The MSC is working to create a new standard for assessing fisheries that catch multiple species at the same time. The proposed standard will offer greater efficiency and improved accessibility to the MSC program for such fisheries.
Head of Standards Governance
Senior Policy Officer
Senior Policy Manager
Policy Systems Manager
Our research collaborations deepen our understanding of sustainable fishing and supply chain traceability.
Every five years we initiate a review of our MSC Fisheries Standard, addressing issues raised and incorporating new science and management best practice.
The MSC Standards meet international best practice guidelines for certification and ecolabelling.
For over 20 years fisheries, scientists, consumers and industry have been part of a collective effort to make sure our oceans are fished sustainably.
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