Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Definition

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) — Certifies wild-caught seafood from sustainably managed fisheries.

The MSC blue label appears on wild-caught seafood from fisheries that meet criteria on sustainable stock levels, minimised environmental impact and effective fisheries management. Chain-of-custody certification (MSC CoC) tracks the fish from boat to plate.

For farmed seafood the equivalent is the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Some fisheries hold both certifications. MSC is the gold standard but has been challenged for certifying some fisheries with bycatch concerns — always check the species and gear type.

Related terms

Vegan

Contains no animal-derived ingredients and no animal byproducts.

Cruelty-Free

Neither the finished product nor its ingredients were tested on animals.

B Corp

A for-profit company independently verified to meet high social and environmental standards.

USDA Organic

U.S. federal certification for food and farming free from synthetic pesticides, GMOs, and irradiation.

Using Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) without overreading the claim

Certifies wild-caught seafood from sustainably managed fisheries.

This entry refers to a named scheme or initiative. Its published criteria and scope matter more than the general impression created by the badge.

Separate the question the term addresses from questions it does not answer. Material sourcing, labour conditions, chemical safety and disposal need different evidence. Catalogue labels are a starting point for checking that evidence, not a substitute for it.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): verification guide

Check	Action	Limitation
Scheme	Read the named scheme's current criteria	Standards cover different environmental or social questions
Register	Look up the licence or member in the scheme's directory	A logo image alone does not establish current status
Scope	Match the company, site or exact product covered	Company certification is not necessarily product certification

Before relying on Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

SchemeRead the named scheme's current criteria
RegisterLook up the licence or member in the scheme's directory
ScopeMatch the company, site or exact product covered

Frequently asked

What does Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) mean?+

Certifies wild-caught seafood from sustainably managed fisheries.

How can I check a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) claim?+

Read the named scheme's current criteria. Look up the licence or member in the scheme's directory. Match the company, site or exact product covered.