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CSI – Certified Seafood International

CSI (Certified Seafood International) certification for wild-capture fisheries and supply chains. Control Union UK provides independent Fishery and Chain of Custody audits.

CSI Certification
    Certified Seafood International (CSI)

    About the certification

    CSI (Certified Seafood International) is a globally recognised certification programme designed to provide credible assurance that wild-capture fisheries are responsibly managed and that certified seafood products can be reliably traced through the supply chain.
    As an approved certification body, Control Union UK conducts independent audits for both CSI Wild Capture and CSI Chain of Custody certifications. These certifications help fisheries and supply chain organisations demonstrate responsible practice, meet buyer expectations, and ensure traceability from harvest to consumer.
    Explore the CSI programme
    What is the CSI Standard?

    Wild Capture (Fishery) Certification

    This scope assesses wild-capture fisheries against the CSI Fisheries Standard, which is based on internationally recognised FAO guidelines. Certification provides assurance to buyers that seafood originates from responsibly managed fisheries. Assessment includes:

    Assessment under the CSI Fisheries Standard evaluates whether the target fish stock is being harvested at sustainable levels. This includes reviewing available scientific data, stock assessments, catch trends, and reference points where available. The aim is to ensure that fishing pressure does not compromise the long-term productivity of the stock and that appropriate measures are in place to prevent overfishing.

    The standard considers the broader environmental effects of fishing activity, including impacts on non-target species, endangered or protected species, and marine habitats. This may involve evaluation of bycatch management, gear selectivity, and mitigation measures designed to reduce ecosystem disturbance. Fisheries are expected to identify and manage environmental risks in line with recognised best practice.

    CSI assesses whether the fishery operates within a structured and transparent management framework. This includes the existence of clear regulations, defined harvest control measures, stakeholder engagement processes, and mechanisms for adapting management in response to new information. Effective governance supports responsible resource use and long-term sustainability.

    A key element of certification is demonstrating that rules and management measures are effectively implemented. This includes systems for catch reporting, vessel monitoring where applicable, inspection procedures, and enforcement actions in cases of non-compliance. Robust monitoring and compliance mechanisms help ensure that fishery management measures are credible and consistently applied.

    Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification

    The CSI Chain of Custody Standard verifies that seafood labelled as CSI-certified has been sourced from approved fisheries and can be accurately traced throughout the supply chain. This ensures integrity of certified products from harvest through processing, distribution and sale. CoC certification assesses:

    The CSI Chain of Custody Standard requires certified organisations to implement effective traceability systems that allow certified seafood to be tracked from receipt through processing, storage, and sale. Businesses must be able to demonstrate how certified material is identified, recorded, and linked to outgoing products. Clear traceability ensures that claims relating to CSI certification are accurate and verifiable.

    Depending on the operation and chosen control model, organisations must either physically segregate certified and non-certified products or apply a controlled mass-balance system. Segregation ensures that certified seafood remains separate at all stages of handling, while mass-balance systems require accurate accounting to ensure that volumes sold as certified do not exceed volumes purchased. Both approaches are designed to maintain the integrity of certified claims.

    Certified organisations must maintain clear and accurate documentation to support traceability and certification claims. This includes purchase records, sales invoices, production logs, and internal tracking documents. Record-keeping systems must allow auditors to verify product flow, confirm volumes, and ensure that certified seafood is correctly identified throughout the supply chain.

    Organisations must have procedures in place to verify that incoming certified seafood originates from CSI-certified fisheries or certified suppliers. This includes checking certificate validity, confirming scope coverage, and ensuring supplier details match certification records. Robust supplier verification helps prevent mislabelling and protects the credibility of the CSI certification system.

    Who is the certification for?

    CSI certification is relevant to organisations operating within the wild-capture seafood sector, both small-scale and industrial fisheries are eligible for assessment, including:

    • Wild-capture fisheries seeking responsible management verification

    • Fishing companies and industry associations

    • Seafood processors, packers, traders, and distributors

    • Importers, exporters, brands, and retailers requiring verifiable sourcing

    • Organisations integrating CSI into their responsible sourcing programmes

    Benefits of CSI Certification

    For Fisheries (Wild Capture)

    • Demonstrates responsible fishery management

    • Builds credibility with buyers and sustainability-conscious markets

    • Aligns with internationally recognised FAO best-practice frameworks

    • Supports long-term resource stewardship

    • Provides a clear and transparent assessment framework for continual improvement

    Benefits of CSI Certification

    For Supply Chain Organisations (CoC)

    • Independent verification of product traceability

    • Strengthens sourcing assurances for customers and retail partners

    • Reduces risk of mislabelling or unverified claims

    • Enables use of the CSI ecolabel where applicable

    • Enhances trust and transparency throughout the supply chain

    How CSI Certification Works

    Our CSI certification process typically includes:

    Application & Scoping

    We identify the appropriate certification scope(s) and clarify requirements based on your fishery or supply chain operations.

    Document Review

    Evaluation of management systems, traceability documentation, harvest data, and other evidence relevant to the selected scope.

    On-site Assessment

    For fisheries: evaluation of fishery operations, management, compliance, and ecological factors. For CoC: assessment of traceability controls, record-keeping, and segregation processes.

    Certification Decision

    A technical review of findings results in certification where all criteria are met. Non-conformities may require corrective actions.

    Ongoing Surveillance

    Regular monitoring ensures continued compliance and integrity of certified operations.

    Why choose Control Union UK?

    Control Union is an established global leader in sustainability and supply chain assurance. By working with us, you benefit from:

    • Experienced auditors in fishery assessments and supply chain traceability

    • Global coverage with strong local knowledge

    • Efficient and transparent certification processes

    • A trusted reputation across the seafood and sustainability sectors

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