Marine Animals

Sustainable Seafood and Marine Welfare Certification

Seafood certification schemes like the Marine Stewardship Council are primarily conservation-focused but some are incorporating animal welfare criteria alongside sustainability metrics.

Key Facts

The Marine Stewardship Council certifies over 500 fisheries covering 15% of global wild catch
MSC certification focuses primarily on sustainability and ecosystem impact rather than welfare
Some third-party schemes including Friend of the Sea and Aquaculture Stewardship Council include welfare elements
Bycatch species welfare is rarely assessed in certification schemes despite significant suffering involved
Consumer demand for welfare-positive seafood is growing as fish sentience awareness increases

Welfare Considerations

Current seafood certification predominantly focuses on population sustainability and ecosystem impact, leaving individual fish and bycatch welfare largely uncovered. As scientific consensus on fish sentience strengthens, welfare criteria are beginning to emerge in certification discussions. Choosing certified sustainable seafood is a meaningful first step, but advocating for welfare integration into certification standards advances the welfare dimension.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC or equivalent certified sustainable seafood as a minimum standard
Advocate for welfare criteria integration in seafood certification scheme updates
Support organizations working on fish welfare standards in fisheries and aquaculture
Reduce seafood consumption to lower demand for fisheries with limited welfare oversight
Ask certification bodies about their plans to incorporate fish welfare criteria