What is it?
Certification scheme issued or operated by MSC.
Regulatory recognitionBlue label gates 'sustainably caught' claims
Standards & schemes · Certification scheme
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
MSC
Which version is current?
Profile version 2. Official information last verified 22 August 2026.
Who and what does it cover?
- Geography
- Global
- Sectors
- Wild-capture fisheries
- Scope
- Fishery / product
What does it require?
Fishery certification against three principles (stock health, ecosystem impact, management) with chain-of-custody for the blue label.
What it does not demonstrateThe scheme does not by itself prove that a particular product, site or organisation holds a current certificate; its scope and validity must be checked.
How is conformity assessed?
Third-party fishery assessments + CoC audits
Grievance mechanismMSC objections procedure
Who makes the decision?
MSC
Assurance arrangementThird-party fishery assessments + CoC audits
Chain of custody
Chain of custody (segregated)
ISEAL membershipISEAL member
Conditional relationships
Claims it may support
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Sustainably caught” seafoodMay support · Requires a current valid certificate within the scheme's scope; certification supports but does not by itself prove the claim — wording must reflect certified scope and assurance level.see standards.last_verified100% responsibly sourced own-brand fishMay support · Requires a current valid certificate within the scheme's scope; certification supports but does not by itself prove the claim — wording must reflect certified scope and assurance level.see standards.last_verified
Legal context
Laws referencing it
No reviewed law references are published.
Dictionary
Dictionary concepts
Version record
What has changed
- Version 2Initial profile published after recorded site-owner/editor review of the complete standards batch.
- Version 1Initial private editorial draft imported from the reviewed standards handover.
Last verified 22 August 2026. This neutral profile is informational and does not recommend, rank or endorse the standard.