Sustainable seafood certifications focus primarily on fish stocks rather than individual fish welfare. Understanding whether sustainability and welfare can be simultaneously certified is important for consumers.
The sustainable seafood label landscape conflates environmental sustainability and animal welfare in ways that mislead consumers. A fishery can be sustainably managed while causing extreme individual fish suffering. Conversely, a welfare-certified aquaculture operation may have significant environmental impacts. Comprehensive seafood labels that genuinely address both dimensions are needed. Until then, combining MSC or ASC certification with RSPCA Assured provides the most complete coverage for farmed species.