The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a global, non-profit organisation that works to promote responsible and sustainable fishing practices. It was established by Unilever and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 1997 and has worked as an independent organisation since 1999. The MSC has offices in the UK and around the world, from America to Australia.

The MSC believes that commercial fisheries have an obligation to operate responsibly and sustainably, and that demonstrating environmental responsibility though a transparent supply chain creates a well informed consumer, which in turn drives demand for sustainably sourced seafood.

To achieve its goal of improving the state of the world's seafood stocks and the health of the marine ecosystem, the MSC has developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. This provides independent certification of commercially exploited fisheries and stocks. Seafood products from MSC certified fisheries are identified by an eco-label.

For more information about MSC click here

The Loch Torridon nephrops creel fishery was the fist Scottish fishery to be certified as sustainable to the MSC standard. It was first accredited in January 2003, and has now undergone its first re-assessment. More details on the status of this fishery can be found here.

 

The following Scottish fisheries are also undergoing full assessment towards certification and are at varying stages in the process. Click on the links for more information:

• Clyde Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl and creel fisheries click here to track progress
  
  
• Loch Torridon Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) creel fishery click here to track progress (certified) *

• North Sea herring (Clupea harengus) Scottish trawl fishery click here to track progress (certified) *

• Western component of North East Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Scottish trawl fishery click here to track progress
   
• Stornoway Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl fishery click here to track progress
   
• North Sea haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) trawl fishery click here to track progress
   
• North Sea Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl fishery click here to track progress