Beyond the logo
Understand MSC, ASC, BAP and Seafood Watch, plus practical wild and farmed shrimp questions.
The blue fish label applies to wild-caught seafood from fisheries certified to the MSC standard, with chain-of-custody requirements. It does not mean every product from the same species or country is certified.
What the MSC label means ↗The ASC label identifies farmed seafood independently certified against environmental and social requirements with traceability controls. Confirm the label belongs to the specific product.
What the ASC label means ↗BAP is an aquaculture certification program that can cover hatcheries, farms, feed mills and processing plants. Star counts may indicate how many production stages are certified; read the package claim carefully.
Explore BAP ↗Seafood Watch publishes science-based recommendations by species, origin and production method. Ratings can change, and “shrimp” alone is too broad—use its current search.
Search Seafood Watch ↗A credible label adds independent standards and traceability, but programs differ in scope. It does not make every environmental or social impact disappear. Conversely, an uncertified small fishery or farm is not automatically poor; it may lack access to certification. Combine labels with origin, method, seller transparency and current recommendations.
Prefer products that tell you more: species, wild/farmed status, country and area, producer or fishery, processor, count, ingredients and a verifiable certification or recommendation. Transparency is itself useful information.