Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification

All wild-caught seafood sources – from fishing vessels and processors to distributors, retailers and restaurants – face a market challenge to demonstrate that products are sustainably sourced from responsibly managed fisheries that conserve fish stocks and ecosystems. They also want to fulfil chain-of-custody standards for species integrity and quality. Through NSF, Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification offers two recognized standards:

• A sustainable fisheries standard
• A chain-of-custody (CoC) standard that traces seafood integrity (DNA tested) through the entire supply chain

RFM Certification helps buyers and consumers to identify sustainable seafood producers by means of a free consumer-facing logo license:

• Fisheries
• Fishing vessels, handlers, processors and packers (including canners)
• Wholesalers, distributors, retailers and food-service operators

RFM’s standards adhere to the following criteria:

• The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) and its Global Benchmarking Tool for seafood certification programmes
• A model based directly on UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) criteria
• International accreditation under the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO 17065) code)

RFM is known for the following practices:

• Engagement and collaboration with ecosystem stakeholders, the seafood industry and affected geographic locations
• Inclusion of the following species: Alaska salmon, pollock, cod, black cod/sablefish, flatfish, rockfish, halibut, crab and Atka mackerel
• Transparent assessment and impartial appeals