Norway developing new fisheries standard as alternative to Marine Stewardship Council

Norway has issued a final draft of a new responsible fisheries standard aimed at offering industry an alternative to the dominant Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification program.

The Norwegian Responsible Fisheries Management (NRFM) standard, funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF), is being developed as a sustainability standard for Norwegian fisheries, based on Norway-specific conditions, in a move that echoes similar efforts by Iceland and Alaska.

Global Trust, which developed similar Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) programs for Alaska and Iceland, is leading the development, along with Norwegian research institute Nofima.