RECORD NUMBER OF FISHERIES ENGAGED IN THE MSC GLOBAL PROGRAMME

Record number of fisheries engaged in the MSC global Programme. 789 Fisheries in Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Programme – an increase of 7% on previous year.

More fisheries than ever before are working with the MSC Programme, as global momentum for sustainable seafood continues, according to the organisation’s annual report, Progress and Partnership in Sustainable Seafood. 

 Of the 600 fisheries certified to the MSC Fishery Standard, the leading benchmark for sustainable fishing, a record 115 were re-certified in 2025/2026.  New Zealand’s hoki fishery achieved its fifth recertification, celebrating 25 years in the Programme.

Many certified fisheries have made significant improvements to their fishing practices. For example, before recertification, the Namibia hake trawl and longline fishery strengthened its stock assessments, improved the protection of sensitive habitats, and reduced impacts on seals and seabirds.

In the UK there are currently 17 MSC certifications, spanning large offshore fisheries such as North Sea herring through to smaller coastal fisheries targeting species including brown shrimp, cockles and Cornish sardines. In 2024 these fisheries landed more than 184,590 tonnes of certified seafood—around one quarter of the UK’s total catch. Many have maintained certification for over a decade, demonstrating the commitment to sustainable fishing that exists in our UK fishing communities, and the investments being made to achieve and maintain their internationally recognised best practice.

More than 70% of the global whitefish catch and over half of the world’s global tuna catch comes from certified fisheries. Overall, fisheries engaged with the MSC represent almost a fifth of the global marine catch – a remarkable achievement of collective commitment from the MSC’s fishing and supply chain partners which source certified, ecolabelled seafood. 

 The MSC recognises that not all fisheries are ready to meet the stringent requirements of its Fisheries Standard, and its Improvement Programme aims to support fisheries working towards entering assessment within five years.

 According to the annual report, the Improvement Programme now includes 40 fisheries across countries ranging from the UK, Ecuador, Canada and Indonesia. These include the Peruvian Giant Squid fishery, the world’s largest squid fishery. This fishery entered the Improvement Programme in 2025, and its 4500 artisanal vessels account for 30% of the global squid harvest.

The MSC is a voluntary, market-driven program, that uses incentive of retail and consumer demand, to recognise and reward sustainable fishing practises. The success of this model is evident in the 2025/2026 results; the volume and value of ecolabelled products reached new milestones of 1.5 million tonnes and US$1.6 billion sales respectively. Demand for certified sustainable tuna surged, with sales increasing by 30%.

Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC, paid tribute to the leadership of its partners:

“For almost three decades, the MSC has been part of a remarkable collective commitment, working with partners throughout the seafood sector to transform seafood markets, raise standards and drive positive change on the water. The record number of fisheries engaged with our Programme, is testament to that commitment.

However, we are not complacent. We need 100% of the ocean to be managed sustainably. Against a backdrop of global backdrop of climate change and geopolitical upheaval, our ocean is under unprecedented strain and the need to accelerate the delivery of the MSC’s vision has therefore never been greater.”

As the annual report figures show, the MSC has also awarded £9 million in grants through its Ocean Stewardship Fund since 2019. This has supported improvements and critical research that help fisheries improve their sustainability practices.

Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay