Marine Stewardship Council Joins Science Center for Marine Fisheries
Thu, 12/18/2025 - 01:12pm | By: Stove Boat Communications
The Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) is pleased to announce that the
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has joined the Center as a member of its Industry
Advisory Board (IAB). The addition of MSC will further the Center鈥檚 mission to identify
and fund the latest developments in marine science, and to support healthy, sustainable
fisheries.
The MSC is the world鈥檚 leading environmental certification for wild-capture fisheries.
Meeting the organization鈥檚 Fisheries Standard is a rigorous process that ensures that
any seafood product carrying the MSC-certified blue fish label meets the highest benchmarks
for sustainability. Fisheries that are certified against the Fisheries Standard, which
is confirmed after an extensive independent audit, have a proven track record of effective
management, strong science, and environmental stewardship.
鈥淭he Marine Stewardship Council shares the Center鈥檚 mission of supporting critical
scientific research for economically important fisheries,鈥� said Dr. Eric Powell, of
the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at the University of Southern Mississippi, and
the Director of SCEMFIS. 鈥淥ur research has helped our fisheries be better managed
and more sustainable, and MSC鈥檚 membership will help us expand that work.鈥�
SCEMFIS is a member of the National Science Foundation鈥檚 program, which brings together leading marine science academics and members of fishing
industry to collaborate on relevant research projects, fill gaps in scientific knowledge,
and utilize the results of completed research to fill industry needs. As a member
of the Center鈥檚 Industry Advisory Board, MSC will have a role in identifying and funding
needed research for some of the country鈥檚 most important finfish and shellfish fisheries.
鈥淭he MSC is delighted to join SCEMFIS as a member to support and contribute to cutting-edge
research that deepens our understanding of U.S. fisheries,鈥� said Anthony Mastitski,
Fisheries Outreach Manager for the MSC. 鈥淪CEMFIS plays a pivotal role in advancing
scientific research across U.S. fisheries, including many that are MSC-certified.
Thanks in part to SCEMFIS, these fisheries have maintained their certifications and
continue to offer sustainable seafood options to consumers at home and abroad.鈥�
The partnership between SCEMFIS and MSC naturally aligns due to complementary missions
focused on sustainable fisheries. SCEMFIS鈥檚 work has shown tangible impact with helping
certified fisheries address and close conditions within the MSC program like improving
stock health, reducing environmental impacts, and strengthening the scientific foundations
of sustainable management.
SCEMFIS has long supported research that improves the sustainability of our member
fisheries. Several fisheries that have benefited from SCEMFIS research have been certified
sustainable by the MSC standard, including Atlantic and Gulf menhaden, Atlantic surfclam
and ocean quahog, longfin and shortfin squid, black sea bass, summer flounder, and
scup.
SCEMFIS research has examined important issues facing these fisheries. SCEMFIS researchers
have published groundbreaking findings on topics such as how climate change has shifted
the habitats of and ; have found ways to better estimate the ages and population sizes of and ocean ; are researching ways to better set catch limits; developed a detailed model of how and its predators interact in the Gulf food web; and have documented the economic
impact of the Atlantic surfclam, scup, , and fisheries.
鈥淥ur industry members are committed to the highest standards of sustainability,鈥� said
Joe Myers, Senior Director of Innovation & Sustainability of Sea Watch International,
and the current chair of the SCEMFIS IAB. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are thrilled to work with
MSC as a partner in supporting the research that is vital to the future of our industries.鈥�
About SCEMFIS
The brings together academic and industry expertise to address urgent scientific challenges facing sustainable fisheries. Through advanced methods, analytical tools, and collaborative research, SCEMFIS works to reduce uncertainty in stock assessments and improve the long-term sustainability of key marine resources.
SCEMFIS is an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center supported by the National Science Foundation. Industry organizations join SCEMFIS through an Industry Membership Agreement with one of the center's site universities and contribute both financial support and valuable expertise to help shape research priorities.
Its university partners include the University of Southern Mississippi (lead institution) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary. The center also collaborates with scientists from a broad network of institutions, including Old Dominion University, Rutgers University, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, the University of Maryland, and the University of Rhode Island. These researchers bring deep expertise in finfish, shellfish, and marine mammal science.
Demand for SCEMFIS's services continues to grow, driven by the fishing industry's need for responsive, science-based support. The center provides timely access to expert input on stock assessment issues, participates in working groups, and conducts targeted studies that lead to better data collection, improved survey design, and more accurate modeling-all in service of sustainable, science-driven fishery management.
About the Marine Stewardship Council
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to ending overfishing and ensuring seafood supplies for the future. A pioneer in sustainable fishing standards and a trusted nonprofit advocate for ocean sustainability, the MSC program sets environmental criteria to ensure healthy fish stocks, minimal harmful impacts on ocean ecosystems, and to promote effective management. The MSC Fisheries Standard is the world鈥檚 most widely used environmental sustainability standard for wild-caught seafood, and the MSC blue fish ecolabel helps consumers identify products from fisheries that are independently certified. Click for more information.