March 15, 2017 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has become the first global sustainable seafood certification program to achieve recognition from the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).
The MSC’s blue check eco-label is used to designate wild-caught seafood as sustainable. The MSC, which was founded in 1997 by the World Wildlife Fund and Unilever, lists its main objectives as promoting best practices in fishing, creating market incentives to reward sustainable fishing practices, and providing a framework and pathway for fishery improvement.
The GSSI, launched in October 2015 with support from numerous companies involved in the global seafood trade, seeks to “provide clarity of seafood certification worldwide through a multi-component review that is based upon the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the FAO Guidelines for seafood certification and eco-labeling.”
“Recognition from GSSI reaffirms the rigor and credibility of MSC certification. Anyone committing to purchase MSC certified seafood can be confident that it reflects global best practice in fisheries management,” MSC CEO Rupert Howes said in announcement.