What is the Marine Stewardship Council?

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation working to protect our oceans and safeguard seafood supplies for the future. Through our globally recognised certification and blue ecolabel programme, the MSC helps consumers and businesses choose responsibly sourced fish and support ocean sustainability.

By setting standards for environmentally sustainable fishing and seafood traceability, the MSC plays a key role in improving fish sustainability worldwide.

Our vision and mission

We want future generations to be able to enjoy seafood and oceans full of life, forever.

Our vision is of the world’s oceans teeming with life, and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations.

Our mission is to use our ecolabel and fishery certification programme to contribute to the health of the world’s oceans by recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing practices, influencing the choices people make when buying seafood and working with our partners to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis.

You can help protect our oceans by choosing fish and seafood products with the blue MSC ecolabel

Why are oceans important?

Oceans are essential to life on Earth. They regulate the climate, produce oxygen, and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people.

• Oceans absorb carbon dioxide and help combat climate change
• They are home to diverse marine ecosystems
• They support global food security through seafood
  

Protecting ocean health by practicing sustainable fishing standards and combating overfishing is central to ensuring long-term ocean sustainability.

What does the MSC do?

The MSC works with fisheries, seafood companies, and consumers to promote sustainable practices across the seafood industry.

Setting standards for fish sustainability

The MSC sets a science-based Standard for environmentally sustainable fishing. Fisheries are independently assessed against criteria that ensure:

• Healthy fish populations
• Minimal environmental impact
• Effective management systems

This helps improve fish sustainability and encourages better practices across the industry.

We’ve also curated a range of delicious and nutritious recipes to help you make sustainable seafood choices.

Certifying sustainably sourced fish

Fisheries that meet the MSC Standard can be certified, meaning their products are recognised as sustainably sourced fish.

The blue MSC ecolabel gives consumers confidence that the seafood they buy comes from a trusted, environmentally sustainable source.

How does the MSC support ocean sustainability?

The MSC’s work contributes directly to ocean sustainability by:

• Reducing overfishing
• Protecting marine habitats
• Encouraging responsible fisheries management
• Increasing availability of sustainably sourced fish
  

By working across the supply chain, the MSC helps create lasting change in how seafood is produced and consumed.