The certification for fisheries is a voluntary and strict process, conducted by an accredited certifying body, independent from the fishery itself and from governmental organizations.

The process includes a pre-assessment to evaluate if the fishery complies with the Principles and Criteria set by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to certify sustainable fisheries.

If the assessment is successful, the products to be certified can carry an eco-label after completing a traceability audit (Chain of Custody Certification).

MSC aims to keep fisheries productive, with higher profitability, while preserving their ecological and environmental integrity for all mankind interest.

There is a global crisis of fish stocks around the world. When fisheries collapse, or suffer severe reductions, it is not only the stability of the marine ecosystem threatened, but also of the local economies.
Seafood products that reach MSC Standard as well-managed and sustainable fisheries can carry MSC eco-label. It is a market incentive that prompt fisheries to be voluntarily evaluated against MSC standards, which influences directly in their management.

MSC eco-label highlights good fishing practices and brings confidence among consumers that they are not contributing to the over-fishing problem. Also, it offers them real information and power to influence through their purchasing decisions.

There is no global agreement about a clear and practical definition of sustainable. It covers the managament and conservation of natural resources in a way that they can supply present needs without compromising the future ones.

After two years of extensive international discussions and workshops with the industry, seafood buyers, government regulators, NGOs, aboriginal cultures, academics, scientists, and environmental experts, the MSC reached to three principles and associated criteria. Those constitute "MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fisheries”.

MSC eco-label means that the product carrying it has been evaluated by an independent certifier and has reached MSC standard (MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fisheries). All products carrying the label also declare:

“This product comes from a fishery that complies with the environmental standard of the Marine Stewardship Council for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.”

With that information, the consumers realize that purchasing products with MSC eco-label they are supporting healthier oceans and environments.

Fishery companies, governmental agencies, management authorities, and NGOs may apply to obtain MSC certification.

There are no rules about who can apply the certification; however, it is important that the applicant has a degree of influence over the fishery management or the posibility of implement any condition set by the certifier.

Fishery stocks, ecosystems and healthy environments (appropriate research over target and non-target species, development of effective fishing methods, production, processing and marketing).

	Effective legal systems and fishery management plans. It evaluates all relevant laws, standards and international agreements.
	Surveillance and monitoring of fishery activities.
	Environmentally friendly fishing methods.
	Use of quotas systems and catch limits for involved species.
	Socially responsible fisheries, that take into account the social needs of dependant communities.
	Economic and commercial aspects.
	Consideration of the objective points of view of all parties involved in the fishery.

For the fishery evaluation, a team of national and international scientists and experts in fishery management is selected, with experience to cover all aspects of MSC Principles and Criteria.

The team prepares a Preliminary Report that is commented with the applicant, the external reviewers and and public. OIA's Certification Commitee evaluates the information and approves a Final Report with the certification decision.

The main elements of the certification process that imply a cost are:

	the pre-evaluation
	the complete evaluation
	annual audits
	chain of custody certification
	license for logo use*

The budget supplied by the certifier is confidential with the applicant and is adated to each case. The evaluations cost is variable depending on the complexity of the fishery and sometimes, the level of controversy among interested parties. That is the reason why it is fundamental that the applicant provides information as detailed as possible about the fishery to provide an accurate cost calculation. OIA offers a guide with what information is necessary for each case.

There are financial sources to assist fisheries seeking to apply MSC certification.
* Licenced by MSC International Ltd.

The certification process is extensive and scientifically strict, so it takes some time. The length partially depends on the applicant available time, as well as on the nature and complexity of the fishery.
The degree of commitment and good will of those carrying important information about the fishery is a key element for the process duration. The resources available of the certifier, and other work assignments of the evaluation team members may also influence that process.

Estimated time for the different process stages:

	Pre-evaluation: 1 to 9 months.
	Complete evaluation: in absence of objections, estimated 12 to 24 months, depending on the fishery complexity. The average in certified fisheries is around 14 to 18 months.

There is a number of advantages for those getting the certification, as much as for the certified seafood consumers. The fishery organizations obtain a better price for their products, access new markets, keep a competitive position in existent markets, show an adequate management of the resource to the community and interested parties, and receive recommendations about what is necessary to improve the fishery management.

MSC certification promotes the development of management plans and fishery operations and provides incentives for technological research and development, therefore improving the management.

The consumers are aware that purchasing seafood products carrying MSC label they are supporting healthier oceans and environments, and moreover, the future of fisheries. MSC certification is one of the best options to guarantee that consumers may keep on enjoying their favourite seafood products, today and in coming years.

MSC is a totally voluntary program open to all fisheries independently of size, place, type or intensity. The fisheries and individual companies participating in a fishery may choose to participate or not.

Several drafts of the report are written during the process, previous to the approval of the Final Report with the certifier decision. The Pre-evaluation report is confidential between applicant and OIA.

During the Complete Evaluation, there are 4 Reports: the Preliminar Report to be revised by the applicant, the Report for External Revision (includes the applicant's comments), the Report for Public Commentary (includes the Preliminar Report plus the comments and the external reviewers reports) and the Final Report.

The Report for Public Commentary not issued until the applicant and the external reviewers produce their opinions. The Final Report is published in MSC website.

The MSC has three principles - the first one is to develop and maintain the relevance and consistency of the fisheries environmental standard; the second is to accredit certifiers to carry out their evaluations and audit their processes and the third one is to license MSC label to sustainable fisheries products.

The certifier role is to provide an evaluation of all aspects of the fishery against MSC Principles and Criteria. The evaluation has to be objective, impartial and consistent with the requirements of the MSC Accreditation Manual.

The main role of the applicant during the certification process is to make sure that the Evaluation Team can access freely to all fishery information. It is also important that the certifier is appropiately informed about any aspect related to their interests.

The applicant has to be ready to apply any condition or recommendation for certification and is responsible for complying the conditions during the certificate validity.

The MSC evaluation process applies to wildcapture fisheries (including, but not limited to shellfish, crustaceans and cephalopods).

Aquaculture and the harvest of other species are not currently included.