About MSC

Seafood is important for millions of people. The trouble is, our oceans are being seriously overfished. Unless action is taken some of our favourite fish may disappear from the seafood counter altogether. And it's not just our supper that's at stake: overfishing is damaging fishing industries and marine environments around the world.

The MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organisation which was set up to find a solution to the problem of overfishing. We were first established by Unilever, the world's largest buyer of seafood, and WWF, the international conservation organisation, in 1997. In 1999 we became fully independent from both organisations and today we are funded by a wide range of organisations including charitable foundations and corporate organisations around the world. 

We spent two years developing our environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. This standard was put together following worldwide consultation with scientists, fisheries experts, environmental organisations and other people with a strong interest in preserving fish stocks for the future.

We reward environmentally responsible fisheries management and practices with our distinctive blue product label. If you are concerned about overfishing and its environmental and social consequences you will increasingly be able to choose seafood products which have been independently assessed against our environmental standard and labelled to prove it. Our label will assure you that the product comes from a well managed fishery and has not contributed to the environmental problem of overfishing.

We have offices around the world and work in partnership with all those who have an interest in securing a sustainable future.