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On March 5 in Prague, the non-governmental organization MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) organized a special meeting for retailers in the Czech Republic, focused on the development of the MSC Program in Central Europe.
The event was attended by representatives of leading Czech retail chains: Albert, Globus, Lidl, MAKRO, and Rohlik, as well as producers: Bolton Foods, Espersen, and Iceland Pelagic – the companies, with regional and global reach, that have been engaged in the MSC Program for many years and have a clear development strategy focused on sourcing raw materials from sustainable fisheries and implementing strategic actions for the protection of the marine ecosystems.
MSC in Central Europe
The Central European region* plays a significant role in the MSC Program. It covers nearly 150 million people, and in 10 countries, consumers can purchase MSC-certified products.
There has been a steady increase in the number of MSC products over the years: from 203 in 2014 to over 1,100 products in 2025.
The sales of MSC-certified products in Central Europe currently amount to over 60,000 tons per year.
*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine
Program of the meeting
1. Understanding MSC Certification & Sustainable Seafood Sourcing
Anna Dębicka, Program Director, Baltic & Central Europe, MSC
Information about the MSC Program, new species, growth trends of MSC products in the Czech Republic and the entire region, and new opportunities for processors and retail chains resulting from the MSC Improvement Program.
2. Tuna from Bolton
Roberta Signori, Sustainable Development Manager, Bolton Group
3. White Fish (Pollock, Cod, Saithe etc.)
Dominika Rogowska, Sales Manager, Espersen
4. Icelandic Fishery (e.g. Herring)
Marcin Mak, Sales Manager, Iceland Pelagic
5. MSC and ESG Reporting and Green Claims
Marta Kalinowska, Country Manager, Poland & Central Europe, MSC
Sustainability reporting, the latest EU legislation on eco-labeling of products (directives: empowering consumers and green claims), how MSC fits into this process at the EU level, and why sourcing certified raw materials is beneficial.