Over three-quarters of the world’s whitefish catch has now been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), according to the newly released 2025 Sustainable Whitefish Yearbook. The achievement is being hailed as a landmark moment for fisheries and seafood markets worldwide.
Fisheries celebrate decades of progress.
The Yearbook highlights long-term commitments from leading whitefish fisheries. Alaska pollock and South African hake have now maintained MSC certification for 20 years, while New Zealand hoki is approaching 25 years.
More recent successes include Australia’s orange roughy, which achieved certification earlier this year after more than a decade of recovery efforts with scientists and industry partners.
Expanding variety of certified species
Today, over 60 different whitefish species carry the MSC label. These range from popular favourites such as pollock and cod to less familiar species like pikeperch, sablefish and rockfish.
The growth reflects a broad industry commitment to sustainability, with whitefish now representing almost half of all MSC-certified seafood, under assessment, or in the MSC’s Improvement Program.
Consumers can now choose sustainable whitefish across many product types, including frozen and chilled fish, ready meals, surimi, and restaurant dishes. This wider availability has helped ensure that steady supplies of certified fish are maintained despite global market pressures.
Strong demand and commercial incentive
Nicolas Guichoux, Chief Program Officer at the MSC, said the achievement shows both environmental progress and business value.
“Whitefish represents one of the most compelling sustainability success stories in seafood. Many fisheries have improved their practices for decades, showing their long-term commitment and the clear commercial incentive of doing so,” he said.
Despite recent economic pressures and supply chain challenges, demand for sustainable whitefish has remained strong. Certified fisheries have met this demand, while new species and regions are joining the programme, helping to build a more resilient seafood supply chain.