Recognition of Certified Seafood International (CSI) by GSSI

Continuing Commitment to Responsible Seafood Certification

Certified Seafood International (CSI), formerly known as the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) programme, has received ongoing recognition from the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). This recognition underscores CSI’s adherence to the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool v2.0, affirming its unwavering commitment to credible and responsible seafood certification practices grounded in internationally accepted guidelines.

GSSI Recognition Milestones

The CSI programme, utilizing the Responsible Fisheries Management Fisheries Standard (Version 2.2), achieved GSSI recognition in June 2023. This acknowledgment covers essential areas of governance and operational management, specifically Sections A (Governance), B (Operational Management), and D (Fisheries).

In December 2024, GSSI initiated its Monitoring of Continued Alignment (MOCA) procedure. The findings from Independent Experts confirmed that CSI’s certification programme aligns with all GSSI Essential Components, leading to a recommendation for continued recognition, which was subsequently approved by the GSSI Steering Board.

Understanding GSSI’s Monitoring of Continued Alignment (MOCA)

The GSSI Monitor of Continued Alignment (MOCA) serves as an oversight mechanism ensuring that recognized schemes consistently meet the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool’s requirements outside the scope of full re-assessments. Conducted annually, MOCA plays a crucial role in sustaining recognition.

Process Overview

The MOCA process begins with a self-assessment from the Scheme Owner, who reports any changes in the scheme’s ownership, governance, management systems, or related normative documents. Following this report, Independent Experts (IEs) perform a targeted Desktop Review to determine the continued alignment of the scheme with GSSI’s Essential Components.

Key Focus Areas for Independent Experts

• Identification of any modifications in reference documents or scheme ownership/management to evaluate their impact on alignment with the GSSI Benchmark Tool.
• Verification of ongoing implementation through recent audit reports and supporting documentation to confirm the scheme operates as described.

The Independent Experts compile their findings and submit a written recommendation to the Benchmark Committee. After reviewing the findings, the Benchmark Committee provides its own recommendation, with the final decision resting with the GSSI Steering Board, culminating in a public announcement.

About GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool

The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative’s Global Benchmark Tool is designed to formally recognize seafood certification schemes that successfully undergo a rigorous and transparent Benchmark Process. This Tool is anchored in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the FAO Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine/Inland Capture Fisheries, and the FAO Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture Certification. The overarching goal of the Global Benchmark Tool is to minimize the environmental impact associated with seafood production, catching, and supply, thereby addressing the growing global demand for sustainable seafood products.