Sustainable Certification for Seafood, Aquaculture & Fisheries

Friend of the Sea (FOS) is a globally recognized, non-governmental organization established in 2008. Its mission is to protect marine ecosystems by promoting sustainable and ethical practices across the seafood supply chain — from wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture to fishmeal, fish oil, and Omega-3 supplements.

Why get FOS certified?

• Meet global demand – Address the rising consumer need for sustainable seafood
   
• Build trust – Independent, verified certification builds customer confidence
   
• Strengthen loyalty – Engage your team, suppliers, and customers around shared sustainability goals
   
• Show responsibility – Prove your company operates to global environmental and ethical standards
   
• Access new markets – Tap into sustainability-driven buyers and partnerships
   
• Protect our oceans – Play an active role in marine conservation

Which FOS standards do we cover?

✔ SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE CERTIFICATION

FOS aquaculture standards ensure that seafood is produced with minimal environmental impact and in line with high ethical standards.

Key Criterias:

• No impact on critical habitats (e.g., mangroves, wetlands)
• Water quality compliance
• Negligible escape rates
• No harmful antifoulants or growth hormones
• Social accountability
• Carbon footprint reduction

Certified Standards Includes:

• Fish Welfare
• Inland & Marine Aquaculture
• Prawns & Shellfish
• Seaweed & Algae

✔ SUSTAINABLE FISH FEED, FISHMEAL, FISH OIL & OMEGA-3

FOS is the leading certification standard for producers of:

• Fish Oil, Fishmeal, Fish Feed, and Omega-3 Supplements

Sustainability Criteria:

• Sourcing from well-managed fisheries
• Full traceability
• No GMO ingredients
• Social accountability across the supply chain

All certified products meet strict standards and maintain traceability at every stage of production to ensure sustainability and transparency.

✔ CHAIN OF CUSTODY (COC) CERTIFICATION

The Friend of the Sea Chain of Custody (CoC) certification guarantees that certified products are traceable throughout the entire supply chain, from the source (fisheries or aquaculture) all the way to the final packaging and distribution stage.

✔ SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES CERTIFICATION

The FOS wild-catch certification supports ocean health by endorsing responsible fishing practices and ensuring that seafood comes from sustainable, well-managed fish stocks.

Core Criteria:

• Target stocks must not be overexploited (per FAO, RFMOs, national authorities)
• No significant seabed damage
• Selective gear use (max. 8% discard rate)
• No bycatch of IUCN Red List vulnerable species
• Full legal compliance (mesh size, quotas, vessel monitoring, etc.)
• Waste and energy management
• Social accountability

Certification Process

Key Steps:

• Define certification scope – Identify the product(s) or operation(s) for certification
• Initial Certification Audit:

​​Stage 1: System Review
A preliminary evaluation of your management system documentation and readiness for certification.
If successful, the process moves to Stage 2.

​Stage 2: Implementation Assessment
An on-site assessment of how effectively your management system is implemented and maintained.
Upon approval, a certificate valid for 3 years is issued.

Ongoing Compliance:

• Surveillance Audit – Within 12 months of initial certification
• Re-Certification Audit – Every 3 years to begin the new cycle
• Unannounced Audits – May be conducted at any time for additional assurance

Contact us now:

If you have questions or want further information about the FOS standards, please do not hesitate to call or write to us on tel. +45 39 39 01 35 or e-mail cert@balticcontrol.com

To visit the FOS website, please click here: Seafood Sustainable Certification Certification for Fishery (friendofthesea.org)