Regenerative Fisheries Certification Launched to Support Ocean Health & Livelihoods
SEATTLE – November 20, 2025 – The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) today announced the formal launch of its Regenerative Fisheries Improvement Program, a groundbreaking certification framework designed to accelerate the recovery of overexploited fish stocks and protect marine habitats while securing the economic future of fishing-dependent communities worldwide.
The program expands on MSC’s 2024 improvement initiative, establishing the world’s first dedicated regenerative pathway for fisheries that meet baseline sustainability requirements but commit to measurable ecosystem restoration beyond mere avoidance of harm. Fisheries participating in the five-year certification track must demonstrate continuous improvement against science-based targets for stock rebuilding, habitat rehabilitation, and threatened species protection. According to recent industry analysis, seafood companies adopting science-based ocean targets are better positioned to future-proof operations against ecosystem collapse, with pilot participants reporting improved supply chain resilience within the first 18 months of implementation .
The certification operates on a progressive tier system. Participants begin at the “Restoration Partner” level, where they implement independently verified action plans to reduce overexploitation, protect structural marine habitats, and minimize bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected species. These three targets directly address the key drivers of ocean degradation identified by the Science Based Targets Network. Fisheries that achieve measurable improvements within the five-year timeframe graduate to “Regenerative Certified” status, gaining full access to premium markets and supply chain incentives.
“This program recognizes that sustainability is no longer sufficient,” said Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC’s Head of Fishery Standard Accessibility. “The MSC works with hundreds of committed fisheries that are leaders in sustainability. However, many others cannot currently meet our Fisheries Standard despite the growing urgency. This regenerative pathway incentivizes them to become active stewards of ocean recovery, supporting not only the health of marine ecosystems and future seafood supplies but also the livelihoods of the communities that rely on fishing.”
The initiative builds on a successful pilot program that guided South Africa’s albacore tuna fishery to full MSC certification in August 2024. That fishery reduced bycatch of vulnerable seabird species by 67 percent and rebuilt local albacore biomass to 85 percent of historic levels through targeted habitat protection measures. The pilot demonstrated that combining technical support with market incentives could drive meaningful ecological outcomes within three to five years.
Market data indicates strong commercial appetite for regenerative seafood claims. Currently, 25 percent of the UK’s national landings are engaged in MSC improvement pathways, with retailers reporting 12-18 percent price premiums for products carrying sustainability verification. The new regenerative certification is expected to command even higher premiums, with early retail partners committing to dedicated shelf placement and marketing support for certified products.
The program’s verification protocol requires third-party auditing against 23 performance indicators spanning stock health, ecosystem impacts, and management effectiveness. Fisheries must also meet social responsibility criteria, including fair labor practices and community benefit-sharing agreements. Unlike traditional improvement projects that lack standardized metrics, this certification provides a clear, audited pathway to full regenerative status, helping brands avoid greenwashing accusations while delivering verified environmental outcomes.
“The launch of this regenerative certification marks a significant milestone for fisheries worldwide,” said Lisa Bennett, MSC UK and Ireland Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager. “It provides a concrete tool to support them toward not just sustainable, but restorative practices. We’re looking forward to working with fishery partners across all continents to scale this approach and improve the future availability of certified regenerative options for consumers who demand positive impact when they shop.”
The program will initially roll out across 12 priority regions identified as having both high ecological degradation and strong fishery improvement capacity, including the Western Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean Basin. MSC plans to certify its first cohort of 30 fisheries by Q3 2026, with a goal of engaging 500 fisheries globally by 2030. The organization has allocated $8.5 million in technical assistance grants for small-scale and developing-nation fisheries to cover auditing and transition costs.
About the Marine Stewardship Council
The Marine Stewardship Council is an independent nonprofit organization that sets the world’s leading standards for sustainable and regenerative fishing. For over 25 years, MSC has worked with fisheries, scientists, and industry partners to ensure healthy oceans for future generations. The MSC certification program is recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative and is the only wild-capture seafood certification program benchmarked against United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization guidelines.
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