April 6, 2026 — The Gulf menhaden fishery has earned its first recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – the world’s leading certification body for sustainable fisheries – reaffirming its environmental performance and science-based management following a rigorous, multi-year independent audit.
The MSC is the world’s leading certification body for sustainable fisheries, and the 2026 recertification provides third-party verification that the fishery continues to meet the highest standards for sustainability, ecosystem health, and effective management. MSC certifications are valid for five years, with annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance. A full recertification – including public comment and the opportunity for objections – is required every five years. The fishery was first certified in 2019.
The MSC process is exhaustive, examining every dimension of the fishery’s performance: stock health, bycatch rates, environmental impacts, and regulatory oversight. Fisheries must meet strict scoring thresholds across all categories, with any deficiencies requiring time-bound corrective action.
The Marine Stewardship Council is an independent, international nonprofit organization that sets the world’s leading standard for sustainable fishing. Its certification program is science-based, globally recognized, and relies on third-party auditors, transparent public input, and continuous monitoring to ensure fisheries meet the highest benchmarks for environmental performance and accountability.
The Gulf menhaden fishery successfully addressed all conditional scores from its first certification, demonstrating continuous, measurable improvement.