MSC identifies wild-caught seafood from fisheries certified to MSC’s environmental fishing standard; ASC identifies seafood from farms certified to ASC’s environmental and social standard. “Local catch” or a named catch area tells you where seafood was caught, not whether it is certified or sustainable. These labels answer different questions, so read certification, origin and species information separately.
What each label tells you
| Mark or wording | What it indicates | What it does not establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| MSC | Wild-capture seafood from a fishery independently certified to MSC’s environmental standard for fishing, with supply-chain traceability controls. | The precise catch area; look for separate origin information. |
| ASC | Farmed seafood from farms independently certified to ASC’s environmental and social standard, with chain-of-custody controls. | That it was farmed locally, or where it was farmed. |
| Local catch or catch-area text | The stated place or area where seafood was caught. In the EU, origin information is required for covered products. | Sustainability certification, fishing method or superior environmental performance. |
| Commercial or local fish name | The species’ market designation; EU national lists can include accepted regional names. | Certification or proof the fish was caught nearby. |
MSC: certification for wild capture
The MSC program is for fisheries catching marine or freshwater organisms in the wild. Its Chain of Custody Standard is intended to keep certified seafood identifiable and separate from non-certified seafood, and to trace it through certified businesses back to the fishery. MSC’s packaging guidance calls for the label, a relevant claim and a chain-of-custody code identifying the certified supply-chain operator associated with the product. MSC standards and MSC label guidelines explain the program and claim requirements.
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MSC’s product claim says: “This seafood comes from a fishery that has been independently certified to the MSC’s environmental standard for fishing.” That is a certification claim, not a claim that the seafood is local. Use the separate origin information to identify the catch area when it is provided or required.
ASC: certification for farmed seafood
ASC’s updated label applies to seafood from farms independently certified to its environmental and social standard. ASC describes its chain-of-custody certification as using the MSC Chain of Custody Standard, strengthened with an ASC module, to verify origin and maintain the integrity of labeled supply chains. See ASC’s label guidance and Chain of Custody Standard.
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ASC’s stated claim is: “Seafood from farms that have been independently certified to the ASC environmental and social standard.” The ASC label page was updated on August 27, 2026, and says label and claim wording is in transition. Because submission deadlines differ for EU consumer products and products sold elsewhere, consult the current ASC guidance before relying on a deadline or reproducing a particular package design.
How to read catch-area and origin wording in the EU
For fishery and aquaculture products covered by Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, consumer information includes the catch or production area; caught fisheries products also require the fishing-gear category. For sea-caught products from the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO Fishing Area 37), the regulation calls for the relevant sub-area or division, presented in consumer-understandable wording or shown with a map or pictogram. A broad “Mediterranean” description alone does not provide that more specific area detail. The rules apply to covered products, not every processed seafood product or every jurisdiction. Read the EU regulation and the Commission’s consumer-label pocket guide.
What a local fish name does—and does not—mean
A market name answers what species or commercial designation is being sold; it is not evidence of certification or nearby capture. The European Commission’s Fish Names site brings together Member State lists of commercial designations, which can include scientific names and accepted local or regional names.
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When choosing between products, avoid treating MSC, ASC and local-origin wording as interchangeable. Check the information that answers each question:
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- Wild or farmed: MSC here indicates wild-fishery certification; ASC indicates farmed seafood certification.
- Certification: Identify which scheme and standard the mark refers to.
- Place: Look for a stated catch or production area, with enough specificity to understand the origin.
- Traceability: Check whether the seller can identify the product and its supply-chain information.
- Species and method: Use the commercial name and, where available, the fishing-gear information as separate details.
The meaning of a certification mark does not rank every fishery, farm, species or product. Product-specific comparisons require provenance and relevant assessment information. MSC and ASC marks and claims also have use rules; do not infer certification from unsupported seller wording or reproduce a logo without checking the organization’s current guidance. See MSC brand guidelines. MSC’s US menu guidance, for example, says a dish may be promoted as MSC certified only when its seafood content is at least 95% MSC certified; that specific rule should not be generalized to other jurisdictions or labeling situations. More information is available from MSC’s supply-chain certification guidance.
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