Saving Seafood

Accountability Certified: Louisiana’s Most Scrutinized Fishery Just Got Recertified Sustainable. Here’s What the Science Actually Shows.

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.

Read the full article at The Advocate

Gulf menhaden earns MSC recertification, citing low bycatch and strong stock health

April 1, 2026 — The Gulf menhaden fishery has secured recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), reaffirming what industry leaders say is a track record of strong stock health, low bycatch, and science-based management.

According to a March 30 release from Ocean Harvesters and Westbank Fishing, the recertification follows a multi-year independent audit and confirms the fishery continues to meet MSC’s standards for sustainability, ecosystem impact, and oversight.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

Gulf Menhaden Fishery Earns Global Sustainability Recertification Following Rigorous Independent Audit from Marine Stewardship Council

March 31, 2026 — The following was released by Ocean Harvesters and Westbank Fishing:

The Gulf menhaden fishery has earned recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), reaffirming its strong environmental performance and science-based management after 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 Gulf menhaden fishery was first certified in 2019.

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 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 MSC assessment examines every dimension of a fishery’s performance – from stock health and bycatch rates to environmental impacts and regulatory oversight. Fisheries must meet strict scoring thresholds across all categories, with any deficiencies requiring time-bound corrective action. The Gulf menhaden fishery successfully addressed all prior conditions from its initial certification, demonstrating continuous, measurable improvement.

“Achieving recertification against the MSC Fisheries Standard reflects strong, ongoing stewardship of the resource, including careful monitoring and a clear focus on simultaneously maintaining healthy menhaden populations and protecting the marine ecosystem,” said Marin Hawk, Senior Manager Fishery Partnerships, U.S. at the Marine Stewardship Council. “MSC certification is a long-term commitment requiring continuous improvement and accountability, and the Gulf menhaden fishery’s performance underscores its dedication to sustainable practices. We commend the fishery and all those involved for helping to safeguard the long-term sustainability of this important fishery.”

Menhaden are small, nutrient-rich fish found in abundance along the Gulf Coast and play a critical role in both the marine ecosystem and Louisiana’s economy. Harvested using purse seine nets, menhaden are processed into fishmeal and fish oil – essential inputs for aquaculture, U.S. pet food, livestock feed, and human nutrition – valued for their high omega-3 content.

“This recertification is independent, rigorous, and grounded in science – it confirms that our fishery operates responsibly and sustainably,” said Francois Kuttel, President and Principal Owner of Westbank Fishing. “Every step we take, from modernized nets to management and reporting practices, is independently verified and publicly accountable, leaving no room for doubt about the fishery’s sustainability or its benefit to Louisiana communities and markets.”

Economic Impact Across Louisiana

Louisiana’s menhaden industry supports more than 2,000 jobs and generates approximately $419 million in annual economic impact, along with $25 million in state and local tax revenue. The industry also purchases more than $62 million in goods and services from businesses across 32 parishes.

The fishery is powered by two Louisiana-based, U.S.-owned-and-operated companies – Westbank Fishing, headquartered in Empire, and Ocean Harvesters, based in Abbeville. Each works with a processing partner – Daybrook Fisheries for Westbank and Omega Protein for Ocean Harvesters – that received the official MSC recertification certificates on behalf of the Gulf menhaden fishery.

MSC recertification enhances global market access for sustainably sourced products, helping protect Louisiana jobs while ensuring the industry remains competitive in international markets increasingly driven by sustainability standards.

Science, Management, and Accountability

“This certification is not just about environmental performance – it’s about the people and communities that depend on this fishery,” said Ben Landry, Vice President of Ocean Harvesters. “Independent verification confirms the Gulf menhaden stock is abundant, also the fishery is well-managed, and operates environmentally sustainably, reflecting both the health of the menhaden population and the stewardship of our industry.”

The MSC standard is built on three core principles: maintaining healthy fish stocks, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring effective, adaptive management systems. Certification requires third-party review, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing annual audits to ensure continued compliance.

Recent stock assessments and ongoing monitoring consistently show that Gulf menhaden populations remain healthy and are not overfished. The fishery is also recognized for low bycatch rates and efficient harvesting practices.

The Gulf menhaden fishery is among the most tightly regulated in the state, operating under multiple layers of federal and state oversight that hold the fishery accountable on a continuous basis. According to the most recent stock assessment, Gulf menhaden populations are stronger than at any point in the past four decades, with spawning stock biomass more than tripling since the 1990s and fishing mortality declining significantly.

Bycatch Study Reinforces Findings

Recertification follows the release of a landmark, state-funded bycatch study, which found the menhaden industry accounts for just 3.4 percent of red drum removals, compared to 96.6 percent attributed to recreational fishing. The findings underscore the Gulf menhaden fishery’s limited ecological impact and adherence to regulatory limits and reinforce that the industry’s impact is already monitored, measured, and publicly accountable.

Looking Ahead

The recertification comes as global demand for sustainable seafood inputs continues to grow, particularly in aquaculture and animal nutrition markets.

“Our ability to maintain this certification depends on a consistent commitment to data, transparency, and responsible management,” said Kuttel. “We’ve shown that when a fishery follows strict science-based standards, we can deliver both environmental and economic outcomes – a level of accountability that not all user groups are held to.”

With MSC recertification secured, the Gulf menhaden fishery continues to serve as a global model for sustainability – supporting healthy ecosystems, strong coastal communities, and critical U.S. supply chains – with accountability that is proven, measured, and independently verified.

Attached are the official MSC certificates awarded to Daybrook Fisheries (processing partner for Westbank Fishing) and Omega Protein (processing partner for Ocean Harvesters).

Target sued over private-label tuna sustainability claims

March 24, 2026 — U.S. retailer Target is facing a class-action lawsuit over sustainability claims regarding its private-label Good & Gather tuna products.

According to the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the front label of Target’s Good & Gather canned and pouched tuna states that it is “sustainably caught” and includes the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) checkmark logo. Additionally, back-of-label statements include “sustainable seafood” and “wild caught using sustainable practices to help protect ocean resources for future generations to enjoy,” according to the complaint.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Alaska pollock fishery secures MSC recertification

March 20, 2026 — Recertification of the Alaska pollock fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard was finalized today, reaffirming the fishery’s status as a responsibly managed and sustainable seafood resource.

The Alaska pollock fishery has maintained MSC certification since 2005 and has now been recertified for another five-year period following a comprehensive, independent assessment.

Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which holds the MSC certificate for the Alaska pollock fishery, issued the following statement:

“We are proud that the Alaska pollock fishery continues to meet the rigorous, science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council. This recertification reflects decades of responsible management, strong science, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement across the fleet.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Global Labor Justice demands seafood companies enact enforceable brand agreements to protect fisher rights

March 20, 2026 — Members of the Global Labor Justice (GLJ) organization spoke to a crowd during a panel and a vigil outside the Thomas M. Menino exposition building at the 2026 Seafood Expo North America (SENA) on 16 March to advocate for enforceable brand agreements with fishing vessels in Taiwan.

GLJ also hosted a panel session on 16 March, at which speakers discussed instances of alleged forced labor, lack of access to Wi-Fi, withheld paychecks, and abuse that took place on a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified vessel in Taiwan: You Fu.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Alaska Pollock Fishery Recertified Sustainable Against the Marine Stewardship Council Standard

March 19, 2026 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Recertification of the Alaska pollock fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard was finalized today, reaffirming the fishery’s status as a responsibly managed and sustainable seafood resource.

The Alaska pollock fishery has maintained MSC certification since 2005 and has now been recertified for another five-year period following a comprehensive, independent assessment.

Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which holds the MSC certificate for the Alaska pollock fishery, issued the following statement:

“We are proud that the Alaska pollock fishery continues to meet the rigorous, science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council. This recertification reflects decades of responsible management, strong science, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement across the fleet.”

The MSC certification process includes an in-depth evaluation conducted by an independent, third-party Conformity Assessment Body. The assessment measures fishery performance across key areas including stock health, ecosystem impacts, and effective management systems.

“Credible third-party certification programs can provide seafood buyers and consumers with added confidence that their sourcing decisions are backed by credible, transparent standards,” Tinning added. “That accountability is central to maintaining trust in global seafood markets.”

The Alaska pollock fishery operates under one of the most comprehensive fisheries management systems in the world, with strict catch limits, real-time monitoring, and robust bycatch controls.

As the largest MSC-certified fishery globally, Alaska pollock plays a critical role in supporting coastal communities, providing a stable source of wild-caught protein, and contributing to the U.S. seafood economy.

“Sustainable fisheries are essential to the long-term health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them,” Tinning said. “We remain committed to advancing responsible practices and ensuring Alaska pollock continues to set the standard for sustainable fisheries worldwide.”

Background:

The At-sea Processors Association (APA) represents the Eastern Bering Sea Alaska pollock catcher-processor fleet. APA has served as the MSC certificate holder for the Alaska pollock fishery since 2005. The certification covers pollock harvested in the Eastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The full assessment report and certification details are available on request.

BEN LANDRY: Call to shut down menhaden fishery is unwarranted

March 2, 2026 – The following is an opinion piece by Ben Landry, vice president of public affairs for Ocean Fleet Services, the parent company of Ocean Harvesters, originally published in the Baltimore Sun:

On Feb. 16, The Baltimore Sun published an editorial urging a moratorium on menhaden fishing in the Chesapeake Bay (Virginia and Maryland have a small fish problem). Unfortunately, the piece contains errors and misleading claims that strongly suggest it was not independently researched, but instead repackaged long-running advocacy talking points from groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Before endorsing what would amount to a shutdown of a historic fishery — and the hundreds of working waterfront jobs it supports — the editorial board owes readers something more than recycled press- release advocacy. Did the board reach out to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission scientists or Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists? Did it review the current stock status findings that explicitly state Atlantic menhaden are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring? Did it consider that the fishery is certified as sustainable under the Marine Stewardship Council program?

Several claims in the editorial need correction.

First, the editorial asserts a “reduction in the menhaden population” and suggests there is “too much evidence of overfishing.” That is demonstrably false. Marylandʼs own DNR juvenile striped bass survey reported last year that Atlantic menhaden were “widespread” in the Chesapeake Bay for the third consecutive year, with recent survey results among the strongest in decades.

ASMFCʼs benchmark findings are clear: Menhaden are not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. And the fishery is MSC-certified for sustainability. Even last summerʼs menhaden die-offs — events The Sun itself has covered — underscore that there are significant menhaden concentrations in Maryland waters.

Second, the editorial claims that “more dead osprey chicks” are “starving from the reduction in the menhaden population,” and the photo caption amplifies an even stronger assertion: that Virginia “allows the killing of millions of this oily fish causing widespread osprey chick starvation” in tidal bay areas. That allegation is not based on science. Researchers have repeatedly cautioned against treating menhaden as a singular explanation for osprey outcomes. A 2024 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) presentation to the ASMFC and in a letter to Congress described osprey challenges as complex and multi-factor, noting a large long-term increase in the bayʼs osprey population before recent leveling. USGS has also made clear that osprey reproduction challenges are occurring in many places around the country — not uniquely tied to any one prey species, let alone one fishery.

Third, the editorial says striped bass “are in collapse” because the Chesapeake is a primary nursery. Striped bass are indeed struggling, and Maryland DNRʼs Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey has documented below-average spawning success for the seventh consecutive year. But the editorial fails to acknowledge what ASMFC has documented about why striped bass are declining: The primary drivers are recreational overfishing (for much of the past decade), environmental conditions and disease — not menhaden harvest levels. The editorial also ignores that, until very recently, ASMFC found the recreational fishery overharvested striped bass for years; only recently has overfishing ended, while the stock remains overfished.

Fourth, the editorial proposes a moratorium “while a federally funded study takes place.” More science is always welcome, but “pause everything until science is finalized” is not how fisheries are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens framework or the interstate system that governs menhaden. Menhaden management already occurs through a formal, transparent ASMFC process. And there is already bay-focused scientific work underway: The National Science Foundation-affiliated Science Center for Marine Fisheries has funded a Chesapeake Bay menhaden research roadmap led by scientists from UMCES, VIMS and NOAA to inform any bay-specific cap with defensible science. A shutdown now — despite a healthy coastwide stock and clear findings that the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring — would be an unnecessary and economically reckless “solution” looking for a problem.

Fifth, the editorial suggests the fishery can simply shift harvest elsewhere — “in Atlantic Ocean coastal waters … and in the Gulf of Mexico” — as if the bay closure would be painless. Weather conditions and migrations require access to the fish where they are and when they can be caught. That argument betrays a lack of understanding of fishing reality and is callous because it ignores the concentrated workforce and supply chain centered on Reedville, Virginia, and the Northern Neck — jobs with real wages, real benefits and real union protections that are not replaceable in those communities. A forced closure would hit working families first.

Finally, the editorial repeatedly misidentifies the company that harvests fish — another sign that basic research was not done. Omega Protein has not harvested for eight years. Since 2018, it has been a processor that manufactures products such as fish meal and fish oil from menhaden obtained from two sources. Most of the menhaden purchased by Omega Protein is caught by Ocean Harvesters, a majority-U.S.-owned fishing company employing U.S. captains and union fishermen — members of UFCW Local 400 — many from multi-generational fishing families, including minority fishermen. In addition, Omega Protein purchases from menhaden bait fishermen when market conditions are such that supply outstrips demand. If The Sun is going to editorialize about shutting down a fishery and disrupting a regional blue-collar economy, it should at least get the names and roles of the companies involved correct.

The Chesapeake Bay deserves thoughtful, science- based management — not policy-by-editorial fueled by activist narratives. The Sun should correct the record, engage directly with ASMFC and Maryland DNR scientists and treat working waterfront communities with the seriousness and respect they deserve.

Marine Stewardship Council Reports That 90 Percent of US Fisheries Meet Sustainable Standards; Highlights MSC-Certified SCEMFIS Members

February 6, 2026 — The following was released by the Science Center for Marine Fisheries:

Last week, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) highlighted the sustainability of U.S. fisheries with new data from 2025 showing that, by volume, 90 percent of the U.S. catch is MSC-certified and meets the organization’s sustainability guidelines. Among the organizations highlighted are industry members of the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS).

SCEMFIS, a member of the National Science Foundation’s Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program, brings together marine scientists and members of the commercial fishing and wind energy industries to collaborate on fisheries research focusing on sustainable fisheries. Several SCEMFIS member organizations participate in fisheries that have been certified against the MSC Sustainable Fisheries standard, including Atlantic and Gulf menhaden, Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog, longfin and shortfin squid, black sea bass, summer flounder, Atlantic and Pacific tuna, and scup.

Wayne Reichle, the Owner and President of Lund’s Fisheries, a member of SCEMFIS’s Industry Advisory Board (IAB), is quoted by the MSC in their announcement:

“For nearly ten years, Lund’s Fisheries, Inc. has collaborated with the MSC, and our partner conformity assessment bodies (CABs), to assure domestic and international markets vitally important to our long-term success that the seafood we produce is managed sustainably based on rigorous, annual, scientific and monitoring reviews. Our MSC-certified Atlantic sea scallop, Atlantic and Pacific squid, and Atlantic menhaden purse seine, scup, fluke and black sea bass trawl fisheries have provided us with access to markets that would not otherwise be available to our third-generation fishing company, to the benefit of our community, our employees and our company and independent fishermen whose cooperation we depend upon each day as we plan for the future.”

The MSC “sets criteria to ensure healthy fish stocks, minimal harmful impacts on marine ecosystems, and to promote effective and responsive management.” 62 species in the U.S. are MSC certified, with more than 1,300 certified products available in the U.S. market.

In 2025, MSC became the newest member of the SCEMFIS IAB. In joining, MSC praised the work the Center has done for seafood sustainability, with MSC’s Anthony Mastitski, Fisheries Outreach Manager, saying, “SCEMFIS plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific research across U.S. fisheries, including many that are MSC-certified. Thanks in part to SCEMFIS, these fisheries have maintained their certifications and continue to offer sustainable seafood options to consumers at home and abroad.”

In addition to having the MSC and several MSC-certified fisheries represented on the Center’s Board, SCEMFIS research has directly improved the sustainability of many of these fisheries. Among other issues, SCEMFIS-supported science has provided new insights into how climate change has impacted Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog, and how to best estimate their ages and populations; an analysis of Gulf predators’ diets that better defines the role of Gulf menhaden as a forage species in the food web; updating the maturity and fecundity schedules for Atlantic menhaden and addressed improvements in the Atlantic menhaden stock assessment; and the economic impact of the Atlantic surfclam, scup, Gulf menhaden, longfin squid, and summer flounder fisheries.

MSC calls US a world leader in certified environmentally sustainable fisheries

January 28, 2026 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) recently reported that 90 percent of U.S. fisheries by volume are MSC-certified, giving the country the top rank for environmentally sustainable fisheries globally.

“MSC is proud to partner with U.S. fisheries that have a longstanding commitment to sustainability and the protection of our country’s marine resources,” MSC Program Director in the U.S. Laura McDearis said in a release. “As demonstrated by the 90 percent of U.S. fishery landings by volume that are certified to MSC’s rigorous requirements for environmentally sustainable fishing, the leadership and great work of our U.S. partners can’t be understated. MSC certification validates U.S. fisheries’ dedication to ensuring the long-term health of our ocean and sets an example for countries around the globe to follow.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource