Most of us have got into the habit of checking our beauty products for that little cruelty-free bunny symbol before we buy – a small but meaningful act that says something about the kind of consumer we want to be. But when last did you give the same consideration to the fish in your shopping basket? With Earth Day upon us, it’s worth extending that same conscious thinking to the seafood aisle. Because just as that bunny tells you something important about how a product was made, a small blue label on the front of your seafood packaging tells you something equally significant about where your fish came from. The good news is, once you know what to look for, making the switch to MSC-certified sustainable seafood is simple.
The Power of Choosing Sustainably
Our oceans are remarkable. They support up to ten per cent of the world’s population, are home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, and play a vital role in the health of our entire planet. The seafood we enjoy every day is part of that story, and the choices we make as consumers have a genuine, positive impact on how that story continues.
Sustainable fishing is not only possible, but it’s already happening at scale – and it’s working. When fish stocks are carefully managed, research shows they recover, thrive and remain productive for the long term. The successful recovery of Namibian hake and the Patagonian toothfish to healthy numbers is proof that responsible fishing practices deliver real results for the oceans and for the communities that depend on them.
What Does the Blue MSC Label Actually Mean?
This is where the blue MSC label comes in. The Marine Stewardship Council – the MSC – is an independent, science-backed organisation that sets a rigorous, international standard for environmental sustainability in fisheries. To earn MSC certification, a fishery must demonstrate that it fishes only healthy stocks, is managed responsibly for the long term, and actively minimises its impact on other species and the wider marine ecosystem. For this, effective management of the fishery must be in place.
There are currently more than 500 wild-capture fisheries certified to this standard worldwide, independently assessed by scientists and marine experts and audited annually to ensure they uphold the standards.
From ocean to shelf, MSC-certified sustainable seafood is kept entirely separate from non-certified product throughout the supply chain, so when you see that little blue mark, you can buy with complete confidence.
Sea Harvest: Committed to Our Oceans
Sea Harvest has made this commitment, and many products in their frozen seafood range carry the blue MSC label – meaning that when you reach for their tasty hake fillets, fish fingers, burgers and more, you’re choosing seafood that has been independently verified as sustainably sourced.
Sea Harvest’s MSC certification is a reflection of their ongoing dedication to preserving the health of our oceans, not just for today, but for future generations.
Mission Blue: Bringing Ocean Literacy to the Next Generation
Sea Harvest’s commitment to the ocean doesn’t stop at sustainable sourcing; it extends into classrooms across South Africa through their Mission Blue initiative, a collaboration with the MSC.
Understanding that lasting change begins with education, Mission Blue is designed to inspire younger generations to learn about the ocean, understand why it matters, and discover how their own choices, even small ones, can help protect it.
Sea Harvest’s MSC certification is a reflection of their ongoing dedication to preserving the health of our oceans, not just for today, but for future generations.
This fun programme has been developed to bring ocean literacy into schools in an engaging way, showing children how sustainable fishing and thoughtful seafood choices contribute to a healthier marine environment. There’s even a fish finger box collection challenge for schools to get involved with – proof that doing good for the ocean can start around the dinner table. Learn more about this initiative here.
Your Shopping Basket Is More Powerful Than You Think
Here’s something worth celebrating: every time you choose a product with the blue MSC label, you’re actively contributing to the health of our oceans. Consumer choices – your choices – have the power to drive real change. Each purchase of MSC-certified sustainable seafood supports responsible fisheries, encourages more brands and retailers to meet the same standard, and helps ensure that seafood remains a viable, abundant food source for the billions of people who rely on it.
The blue label appears on tens of thousands of products in more than 100 countries, at every price point – from everyday pantry staples to premium seafood. With brands like Sea Harvest making MSC certification central to who they are, sustainable seafood has never been more accessible or more straightforward to choose.
This Earth Day, Look for the Blue MSC Label
Loving the ocean and enjoying great seafood are not in conflict; in fact, with the right choices, they go hand in hand.
This Earth Day, look for the blue MSC label on your seafood and know that you’re part of a global community of consumers, fisheries and brands – Sea Harvest among them – who are committed to keeping our oceans healthy, abundant and thriving for generations to come. It’s a small act with a genuinely big impact.
Visit Sea Harvest: seaharvest.co.za | Facebook | Instagram
