Not un-like other general eco-labels and organic certifications e.g. badger friendly honey, fisheries can also become certified with an eco-label that distinguishes them from other products at point of sale as being more sustainable and an environmentally friendly choice. Certification is achieved by evaluating a fishery on its management, sustainability and ecological performance against pre-determined ecological standards.
The most established and widely acceptable certification programme for wild-caught fisheries is run by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Once achieved, an MSC certification is valid for a period of four years, during which the fishery’s performance is audited annually. A fishery has to re-apply and be re-evaluated at the end of the four years. As yet there are no official certifications for Aquaculture practices.