The Marine Stewardship Council's fund supports 85 diverse projects globally, ranging from marine mammal deterrents to international collaborations for migratory fish, accelerating the adoption of sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation.
Eighty-five innovative projects worldwide have been awarded funding by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)’s Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) to accelerate the adoption of sustainable fishing practices. These initiatives encompass a wide spectrum of efforts, from neuroscientists developing non-harmful deterrents for marine mammals to international collaborations focused on safeguarding highly migratory fish stocks.
The OSF is allocating $2.2 million (USD) to these crucial endeavors, directly supporting fisheries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, and scientists committed to promoting sustainable fishing and the protection of marine wildlife on a global scale.
In Namibia, a hake trawl and longline fishery has secured funding to collaborate with scientists and engineers in deploying Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST). This innovative approach aims to minimize potentially harmful interactions between Cape fur seals and fishing gear.
Rooted in neuroscience, TAST emits a low-range frequency specifically designed to deter seals from approaching fishing gear without causing any damage to their hearing or affecting other species in the vicinity. Beyond mitigating interactions during the Namibian fishery’s operations, this research anticipates yielding valuable insights applicable to other fisheries grappling with similar challenges involving fur seal interactions.
Dr. Thomas Götz, leading the research with local partners, emphasized the significance of the technology: “For certain apex predators, particularly some marine mammal species, bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear have a devastating impact. This technology could offer a sustainable solution to long-standing human-wildlife conflicts, helping to balance the human need for food and livelihoods with wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.”
Further demonstrating the fund's reach, a unique multi-stakeholder inter-governmental collaboration is also receiving support this year. Five MSC-certified albacore tuna fisheries will partner with NGOs and inter-continental agencies to develop and implement a science-based, stock-wide harvest strategy for albacore tuna, a highly migratory species. By prioritizing long-term sustainability and resilience, this project aims to create a replicable model for the effective management of albacore tuna stocks worldwide.
Shana Miller, Project Director for International Fisheries Conservation at The Ocean Foundation, commented on the impact of the funding: "This support from MSC will enable us to facilitate the expansion of rigorously tested harvest strategies to South Atlantic albacore, a commercially valuable stock. Stronger management and control of large-scale fishing, incorporating science-based harvest strategies, will transform fisheries management, contributing to the protection of marine biodiversity and ensuring future sustainability in our changing oceans.”
Other noteworthy projects supported by the OSF this year include research into developing an ecosystem management approach for Iberian Sardines, a long-term study examining the population dynamics of California Market Squid, and initiatives focused on improving the recording of incidental shark captures in the Indian Ocean.
Since its inception in 2019, the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund has awarded over $8.8 million to support more than 200 fisheries and projects globally, with nearly 90 of these located in developing economies.
For the sixth consecutive year, the MSC is committing 5% of its annual royalties from sales of products bearing the MSC ecolabel to the OSF. Importantly, only seafood from fisheries certified as sustainable according to the MSC’s rigorous Fisheries Standard is eligible to carry the blue ecolabel.
Strategic contributions from philanthropic partners and businesses with aligned missions also play a crucial role in accelerating progress towards sustainable fishing on a global scale. This year, over thirty fisheries across Mexico, Peru, Chile, China, Indonesia, South Africa, India, and Southern Europe are receiving support from such partners through the OSF, aiding their transition towards sustainable management practices.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, lauded the recipients: "Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2025 Ocean Stewardship Fund. Our vision is of an ocean teeming with life, and achieving this requires strong partnerships that drive innovation and deliver improvements at scale. These awards highlight the power of collaboration — from scientists and fishers testing inventive solutions to environmental and intergovernmental organizations working alongside fishers to implement large-scale changes in management practices. We’re proud that the OSF can help support these transformative partnerships.”
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Shana Miller, Project Director for International Fisheries Conservation at The Ocean Foundation, commented on the impact of the funding: 
Strategic contributions from philanthropic partners and businesses with aligned missions also play a crucial role in accelerating progress towards sustainable fishing on a global scale. This year, over thirty fisheries across Mexico, Peru, Chile, China, Indonesia, South Africa, India, and Southern Europe are receiving support from such partners through the OSF, aiding their transition towards sustainable management practices.
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