When you buy MSC certified seafood, a portion of your purchase goes to a special fund that supports research and ocean conservation.
The Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) aims to increase the number of sustainable fisheries around the world. To do this, OSF awards grants for research and innovation to help fisheries reduce their impact on the ocean.
Since the fund was established in 2018, 5% of royalties* from the sale of MSC certified products has gone into the fund. This means that when you buy MSC certified seafood, you are helping support research that leads to more sustainable fisheries.
“The Ocean Stewardship Fund is an excellent vehicle to support scientists early in their careers to test hypotheses and make new discoveries,” said MSC Research Director, Dr. Beth Polidoro.
- 32 new grants for projects from India, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, and Peru.
- 9 grants to non-MSC certified fisheries in improvement projects, seeking to become sustainable.
- And an additional ~US$6,400 per grant to student researchers to supplement their research.
So the next time you’re shopping for seafood, make sure to look for the MSC blue fish label so you know that you’re contributing to this important research. The ocean will thank you!
*What are royalties? The MSC doesn’t receive any payment for assessments or certifications of fisheries. The majority of our income comes through the use of our ecolabel. To use the ecolabel on seafood products, certified companies pay an annual royalty fee that supports our work. As a registered nonprofit organization, any income we generate goes directly back to the program, including developing and maintaining our Standards, and ensuring quality control in the supply chain so consumers like you can be confident in your purchases. You can read more about our funding model here.
