Founded in 2013, the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a public-private partnership of 90+ stakeholders tackling seafood sustainability challenges. GSSI is governed by a Steering Board representing the full seafood value chain.
Mission
GSSI’s mission is to ensure confidence in the supply and promotion of certified seafood as well as to promote improvement in the seafood certification schemes.
The Global Benchmark Tool
GSSI operates the Global Benchmark Tool. The tool creates global alignment in seafood certification by formally recognizing credible certification schemes, which are in alignment with the FAO Guidelines. As of October 2020, there are 9 GSSI recognized certification schemes: Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (AKRFM), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), GLOBALG.A.P., Audubon Gulf United for Last Fisheries (G.U.L.F.) Responsible Fisheries Management, Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management (IRFM), Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Many leading global organizations use GSSI recognized schemes as a foundation for their sourcing policies.
A Global Platform
The GSSI Partnership brings together stakeholders from across the sector: FAO, NGOs, policy makers, 5 of the 10 largest food retailers, and 5 of the 10 largest seafood companies, harvesters and producers. This is a unique precompetitive platform to develop global solutions for complex seafood sustainability challenges that have an environmental, economic and social impact. These challenges are too big for one company or one organization to tackle, and that’s where the value of the GSSI Global Partnership comes in. Join GSSI to be part of a global effort towards more sustainable seafood.
