In this section you will find links to MSC program documents and CAB resources.
Become an MSC certifier
To ensure complete independence from the certification process, MSC assessments are carried out by accredited CABs only. This applies to both the MSC Fisheries Standard and the MSC Chain of Custody Standard.
To obtain accreditation, a CAB must
meet the requirements set out in the MSC Certification Requirements. This ensures certification remains robust, credible and meets best practice guidelines for standard-setting organisations as set out by ISEAL and the FAO.
If you are a
CAB and want to get accredited to conduct MSC assessments, please contact Assurance Services International GmbH (ASI) – an independent organisation that accredits CABs to conduct MSC assessments.
ASI - Assurance Services International
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 69
53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49-228 / 227237
Fax: +49-228 / 227237-30
Email: [email protected]
The MSC Fisheries Standard and the General Certification Requirements.
The MSC Chain of Custody Standard and the General Certification Requirements.
Forms, templates and other supporting materials for assessments to our Standards.
Translated program and supporting documents, filterable by language and category.
All requirements, guidance and templates for use with the MSC Improvement Program.
The MSC training modules support and teach CABs how to undertake fishery and supply chain assessments based on the MSC Standards.
A technical tool for CABs and assessors. Interpretations are additional guidance to ensure consistent assessments to the MSC Standards.
Contact us
If you have a query for the the Chain of Custody team, you can email them at [email protected]
If you have a query for the Fisheries team, you can email them at [email protected]
If you want to receive the regular CAB update and quarterly newsletter, you can email [email protected]
If you need support with Ecert, email [email protected]
Fisheries-related resources
The MSC is making changes to Version 3 of its Fisheries Standard to ensure it delivers the intended changes on the water.
We want to boost awareness of career opportunities in the assessment space with our new Fisheries Conformity Assessors Program (FCAP).
Our searchable database of all the fisheries involved in the MSC program. All certificates and assessment documents can be downloaded from here.
Overview of the toolbox, including the Risk-Based Framework, the Evidence Requirements Framework, Benthic Impacts Tool and Early Application of Section SE.
The harmonisation database allows CABs to find overlapping Units of Assessment, aiding harmonisation in the assessment and scoring of fisheries.
Species categorisation database
The species categorisation database can be used to aid species categorisation for v3.1 of the MSC Fisheries Standard.This database aims to include Principle 2 species currently assessed as scoring elements by fisheries in the MSC program, so that they can be categorised as "Endangered, threatened and protected/Out-of-scope" or "In-scope" species.
MSC Species Categorisation Database
| Date effective: | 22 July 2024 |
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