GSSI ANNOUNCES RECOGNITION OF CERTIFIED SEAFOOD COLLABORATIVES RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

GSSI announces Recognition of Certified Seafood Collaboratives Responsible Fisheries Management programme. GSSI is pleased to announce the Recognition of the Certified Seafood Collaboratives Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) programme under version 2.0 of the Global Benchmark Tool.

The RFM programme applied for GSSI Recognition on 29 August 2022 and received Recognition on 30 June 2023, becoming the first certification scheme to achieve GSSI Recognition under the new version of the Global Benchmark Tool. RFM was assessed against sections A, B and D and was found to meet all 142 Essential Components. Their Recognition shows that their programme, as well as their Responsible Fisheries Management standard (version 2.1, 2020), are in alignment with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. Download the GSSI Benchmark Report here

GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool 

GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool provides formal recognition of seafood certification schemes that successfully complete a rigorous and transparent Benchmark Process. The Tool is underpinned by the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the FAO Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine/Inland Capture Fisheries and the FAO Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture Certification. The Global Benchmark Tool aims to minimise the overall environmental impact of how we produce, catch and supply seafood to meet a growing global demand.

GSSI’s Scope of Recognition

Once a scheme is formally and publicly announced as ‘GSSI Recognised’, it means the scheme is in alignment with all applicable Essential Components of the Global Benchmark Tool. The number of Supplementary Components, which are voluntarily applied for, varies for each scheme. GSSI recognition does not include a ranking, nor does it make any claims related to a scheme being ‘sustainable’. The process looks at environmental, governance and operational criteria and how seafood certification scheme’s meet these.

Find out more about the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool and GSSI Recognised schemes at https://www.ourgssi.org/benchmarking/

The Certified Seafood Collective Responsible Fisheries Management Certification programme

Buying seafood from RFM Certified fisheries provides documented third-party assurance of responsible seafood sourcing practices and proof of origin, all without paying logo fees.

On July 1, 2020, the Certified Seafood Collaborative (CSC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation led by a diverse board of seafood and sustainability industry experts, became the owner of the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification programme. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute officially handed over ownership after a six-month period of transition following over ten years of dedication to developing the robust and independent certification for the industry. The transfer of RFM to the CSC presents new opportunity for cost savings, increased efficiencies and growth outside of Alaska fisheries.

The first change in 2020 that the CSC made to the RFM programme was to expand its geographic scope from Alaska fisheries to North America fisheries operating within the EEZ’s of either the U.S. or Canada.

Visit https://rfmcertification.org/about-rfm for more information.