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Nominations Open for Prestigious MSC And ASC Sustainable Seafood Awards 2025

The UK's top sustainable seafood accolades, presented by the global Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), are now accepting nominations. Businesses, fishers, and retailers across the supply chain have six weeks to showcase their commitment to environmentally responsible and ethically farmed seafood, with winners to be celebrated at a gala event in Scotland this October.

London – The call has gone out to the UK's seafood industry: nominations are officially open for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) UK and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK annual awards. These premier accolades, presented by the UK programs of these respective international organizations, celebrate the unsung heroes and innovative businesses dedicated to offering consumers seafood from healthy stocks and responsibly managed farms, spanning the journey from "ocean to plate" and "farm to fork."

Some ASC products

Fishers, seafood farmers, buyers, suppliers, retailers, and restaurateurs operating within the UK are encouraged to champion their sustainability credentials by submitting entries over the next six weeks. The awards serve as a crucial platform to recognize those who are actively safeguarding seafood supplies for future generations.

New Categories and Public Participation

This year's MSC Awards feature 15 categories, with six now open for nominations until August 29. The ASC Awards include established categories such as UK Retailer of the Year, UK Retail Supplier of the Year, and Brand of the Year. Significantly, ASC is also introducing the ASC UK Newcomer of the Year Award, designed to honor a new partner demonstrating exceptional commitment to the ASC program and contributing to a more sustainable future for seafood farming within the UK.

Following a rigorous judging process, the culmination of these efforts will be a gala event in Scotland this October, where the winners will be announced.

Some MSC products

Beyond industry recognition, both MSC and ASC will present a Product of the Year – Consumer Choice award. These awards empower the public to directly celebrate their favorite responsibly sourced seafood products, highlighting the vital role consumers play in driving demand for sustainable choices. Voting for the shortlisted MSC products begins today, and the ASC Product of the Year vote also opens concurrently.

Celebrating Past Successes

Last year's awards, held at The Box in Plymouth, saw notable winners, including Sainsbury's, which took home both the MSC UK Supermarket of the Year and ASC UK Retailer of the Year titles. Birds Eye and Iceland were lauded for their innovative fish finger marketing campaign, while Fish Said Fred was named ASC Brand of the Year. Individual excellence was also recognized, with Jersey lobster fisherman Ian Syvret earning the prestigious Fishing Hero of the Year award.

A Call to Action for a Sustainable Future

George Clark, MSC UK & Ireland Programme Director, urged all those engaged in the sustainable seafood industry within the UK and Ireland to enter. "The MSC UK awards continue to reward the outstanding effort, expertise, and ingenuity demonstrated across the whole seafood supply chain," he stated. "With consumers demanding more sustainable seafood than ever, we’re delighted and proud to be able to reward those individuals and organizations playing their part in delivering the mission of our programme, and safeguarding seafood supplies for future generations. These awards are such a special moment in the calendar to champion them.”

Maud van den Haspel, ASC General Manager for the UK and Benelux, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the daily dedication required for responsible seafood. "As ASC continues to grow in the UK, we hope this level of commitment becomes the standard—encouraging more local farmers, processors, and retailers to choose change and help transform the farmed seafood sector for the better."

Further details on how to submit a nomination for both the MSC and ASC awards can be found on their respective websites.

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