Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Definition

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

1 min
Read time
Shopping term
Label type
2
Key points

At a glance

  • 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.
  • For farmed seafood the equivalent is the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

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.

How to check this before you buy

  1. 1Look for "Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)" on the pack or the Amazon UK listing itself, not just in the brand's marketing.
  2. 2Ask whether the claim is backed by a named standard or independent body, or is just a description.
  3. 3Check whether the claim covers the exact product and size you're buying, not only the wider brand.
  4. 4Compare at least two alternatives on Pickly before deciding.

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.