Marine Stewardship Council

== Marine Stewardship Council ==

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization established to address the problem of unsustainable fishing and safeguard seafood supplies for the future. The MSC works with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups, and the public to promote sustainable fishing practices.

History

The MSC was founded in 1997 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Unilever corporation. The organization was created in response to the growing concerns about overfishing and its impact on marine ecosystems. The MSC became fully independent in 1999.

Mission and Objectives

The primary mission of the MSC is to use its ecolabel and fishery certification program to contribute to the health of the world's oceans by recognizing and rewarding sustainable fishing practices, influencing the choices people make when buying seafood, and working with partners to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis.

MSC Certification

The MSC operates a certification program for wild-capture fisheries. Fisheries that meet the MSC's standards for sustainability can use the MSC blue label on their products. The certification process involves a rigorous assessment by independent, third-party certifiers against the MSC Fisheries Standard, which is based on three core principles:

• Sustainable fish stocks
• Minimizing environmental impact
• Effective fisheries management

MSC Chain of Custody

The MSC Chain of Custody standard ensures that MSC-certified seafood is traceable through every step of the supply chain, from the fishery to the final point of sale. This standard helps to prevent seafood fraud and ensures that consumers can trust the MSC label.

Impact

The MSC program has had a significant impact on global fisheries management. As of 2021, over 400 fisheries around the world are MSC certified, representing more than 15% of the global wild-caught seafood supply. The MSC label is recognized and trusted by consumers, retailers, and seafood companies worldwide.

Criticism

Despite its successes, the MSC has faced criticism from some environmental groups and scientists. Critics argue that the MSC certification process is not stringent enough and that some certified fisheries do not meet the highest standards of sustainability. The MSC has responded to these criticisms by continually reviewing and updating its standards and processes.

See Also

• Sustainable seafood
• Overfishing
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council
• World Wide Fund for Nature
• Unilever