Ocean Choice International supports the assessment of our fisheries by outside agencies to guarantee their sustainability.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is considered the international standard for certification of sustainable fisheries. Currently, OCI has met the MSC standard for the following fisheries:
- Canadian Offshore Northern and Striped Shrimp
- Grand Bank Yellowtail Flounder
- Wild Canadian Sea Scallops
- Canadian Coldwater Shrimp
In order to achieve certification, every fishery must prove that it meets three principles:
- A fishery must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to overfishing or depletion of the exploited populations.
- Fishing operations should allow for the maintenance of the structure, productivity, function and diversity of the ecosystem.
- The fishery is subject to an effective management system that requires use of the resource to be responsible and sustainable.
All four of our certified fisheries are significant components of the Ocean Choice portfolio, and with the Canadian Offshore Prawn fishery currently under assessment for MSC approval, more than two-thirds of OCI’s substantial quota and raw material base will soon be under the globally recognized MSC umbrella.