The Marine Stewardship Council has called on brands and retailers to take a proactive role in safeguarding small pelagic fish stocks

Herring, blue whiting and mackerel in the north-east Atlantic have recently lost or had their MSC certifications suspended due to disputes over fishing quotas.

In response, several MSC partners have shifted to sourcing from sustainable pelagic fisheries such as North Sea herring, Icelandic herring and Chilean jack mackerel, ensuring market supply while protecting ecosystems.