MRAG Americas

Seafood Traceability

MRAG provides traceability services to ensure that seafood was caught legally and sustainably. MRAG has worked globally on these issues and has offices in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Knowledge of where fish comes from and assurance that it was sourced responsibly is critical in making purchasing decisions. Supermarkets and seafood traders want assurance that their fish was caught legally. NGOs and consumers demand environmental conservation and industry responsibility. MRAG gives assurance by verifying full supply chain traceability, assessing sourcing criteria, undertaking risk assessments, and assuring quality, and can help minimize the risk of handling illegal fish.

Unlike other certifiers, MRAG specializes in fisheries management and policy and provides a unique and relevant source for all your questions regarding the capture, culture, and sourcing of product. Our experts have the scientific knowledge to work with you and help make sustainable choices all the way through the chain of custody from catch to consumer.

In addition to general traceability, MRAG can certify clients to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing and Chain of Custody Standard, and can also work with supply chains to help integrate certification audits where feasible with a view to minimizing costs.

Traceability Services:

• Customized, confidential, and independent traceability audit of products from catch to consumer
• Confidential risk assessment to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing and ensure seafood has not been caught illegally
• Chain of custody assessments, MSC fisheries certification, and confidential third-party supply chain audits

Traceability Process:

Risk Assessment and Analysis

• Assessment of all risks, identification of key risks

Onsite Audit and Data Collection

• Facility visit to clarify traceability and sustainability issues
• Risk assessment analysis to identify weaknesses in supply chain

Analysis of Requirements

• Assistance for companies in identifying principles and policies for sustainable operation
• Review of product sourcing (both wild catch and aquaculture)
• Review of social and labor standards
• Performance of a full traceability assessment
• Conformation to Marine Stewardship Council standards for Chain of Custody
• (MRAG also considers ISO 19011 and ISO Guide 65 in their auditing and accreditation requirements; ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 22005:2007 for documentation control)

Audit Report

• Complete report on suitability of supply chain, identification of key risks, rating for sustainability, solutions for reducing risk, and recommendations for monitoring

For more information, download our Seafood Traceability Assessment flyer or contact one of our offices.