On this page
- Understanding MSC shark finning policy requirements
- Fins naturally attached policies and operational compliance
- Evidence requirements and auditor verification framework
- Managing vessel exclusions and conviction procedures
- Example
- Before your audit
- Questions people ask
- What is the MSC fins naturally attached policy?
- What happens if a vessel in an MSC certified fishery is convicted of shark finning?
- Can a fishery use fin-to-carcass ratios under MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0?
- How do auditors evaluate evidence that shark finning is not taking place?
- Reference documents
The short version
- Certificate holders must enforce a strict fins naturally attached or non-retention policy for all retained sharks.
- Any vessel convicted of a shark finning violation must be excluded from the unit of certification for two years.
- Conformity Assessment Bodies evaluate finning prevention under target, primary, and secondary species management performance indicators.
- Fisheries transitioning to version 3.0 must verify policy compliance using the Evidence Requirements Framework in Tool B.
Understanding MSC shark finning policy requirements
Understanding MSC shark finning policy requirements is essential for quality managers and compliance leads managing fisheries that land or interact with sharks. The Marine Stewardship Council strictly prohibits shark finning across all certified operations, requiring certificate holders to enforce mandatory fins naturally attached policies or complete non-retention rules. Quality managers can access complete guidance in our MSC Fisheries reference articles.
The rationale behind these stringent controls stems from a binding decision by the Marine Stewardship Council Board of Trustees to eliminate shark finning within certified supply chains. The policy applies to all wild-capture fisheries targeting or catching sharks, defined taxonomically under Clause SA2.4.3.1 of the MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0 as species within the orders Selachimorpha and Rhinopristiformes. When a management agency defines sharks more broadly, the broader regulatory definition must take precedence during assessments.
Strict scope eligibility criteria govern fleet participation and legal history. Under Clause 7.4.8.5 of the MSC Fisheries Certification Process version 2.3 and Clause 1.1.6 of the MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0, the client group must not include any entity or vessel implicated in a conviction for a shark finning violation within the preceding two years. If an onboard conviction occurs, the Conformity Assessment Body must consider the vessel out of scope and immediately remove it from the Unit of Certification.
Fins naturally attached policies and operational compliance
Under the MSC Fisheries Standard, landing sharks with fins naturally attached represents the primary mechanism for demonstrating that shark finning is not taking place. Under Clause SA2.4.4 of version 3.0, a fishery retaining sharks must maintain a formal fins naturally attached policy across all participating vessels. Alternatively, fisheries may enforce a total non-retention policy, requiring fishing crew to release all captured sharks immediately without retaining any body parts.
In practical operational terms, fins naturally attached requires that all fins remain connected to a substantial portion of the shark carcass by skin or muscle. To facilitate freezing, bleeding, and onboard storage, deck crew may partially cut fins and fold them around the carcass. However, artificial attachment mechanisms—such as securing severed fins using wire, ropes, or plastic bags containing the body—do not satisfy standard requirements.
Fisheries transitioning to new scheme frameworks must adapt their internal controls to meet updated reporting benchmarks. Compliance teams should consult our practical guide to transitioning to MSC Fisheries Standard v3.0 to align fleet operations. Under Clause SA2.4.5 of version 2.01, fisheries processing sharks at sea were permitted to use fin-to-carcass ratios, but version 3.0 eliminates ratio exemptions, making fins naturally attached or non-retention mandatory for all retained catch.
Important: Under Clause 1.1.6.1 of MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0, if a vessel is implicated in a shark finning conviction, the client group must inform their certifier immediately and exclude the vessel for two years.
Evidence requirements and auditor verification framework
Conformity Assessment Bodies evaluate shark finning management across multiple Performance Indicators within Principle 1 and Principle 2. Assessment teams score finning prevention under scoring issue (e) of Harvest Strategy PI 1.2.1 for target sharks, scoring issue (d) of Primary Species Management PI 2.1.2, and scoring issue (d) of Secondary Species Management PI 2.2.2.
Under MSC Fisheries Standard version 2.01, auditors evaluated external validation levels using nominal observer coverage benchmarks. Achieving the 60 scoring guidepost required at least 5 per cent observer coverage, while the 80 scoring guidepost required 20 per cent observer coverage alongside regulations. Version 3.0 replaces these fixed percentages by requiring auditors to apply the Evidence Requirements Framework set out in Tool B of the MSC Fisheries Standard Toolbox.
| Requirement | What the auditor checks | Evidence to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Enforceability | Verification of mandatory fins naturally attached or non-retention policies across all client vessels. | Written codes of conduct, binding fleet regulations, and vessel operating manuals. |
| Conviction Screening | Confirmation that no client vessel or operator incurred a shark finning conviction within two years. | Judicial registry checks, official enforcement agency statements, and captain declarations. |
| Verification Accuracy | Application of Tool B framework to test accuracy and reliability of monitoring data. | Electronic monitoring footage, observer logs, and dockside inspection records. |
| Physical Segregation | Onboard inspection proving fins remain attached to carcasses by skin or muscle. | Vessel hold inspection logs, landing receipts, and processing photographs. |
Tip: Internal auditors should audit electronic monitoring logs and dockside inspection reports quarterly to ensure monitoring data meets the high accuracy thresholds required under Tool B.
Managing vessel exclusions and conviction procedures
When an onboard shark finning incident or legal conviction occurs within a certified fishery, quality leads must execute a structured, time-critical response procedure. The client group must follow four sequential steps to protect the broader certificate.
- Issue immediate written notification to the Conformity Assessment Body upon learning of any vessel implication or conviction.
- Formally exclude the implicated vessel from the Unit of Assessment, Unit of Certification, and official vessel list.
- Transmit complete documentation to the certifier demonstrating that the vessel no longer operates within the certified fishery group.
- Co-operate with the certifier during an expedited audit conducted under Section 7.30 of the MSC Fisheries Certification Process.
Following notification, the certifier verifies the vessel exclusion and updates the vessel register on the official scheme database. Under Guidance G7.4.7, the two-year exclusion period begins on the exact date the updated vessel list is published on the Track a Fishery website. If the client group fails to exclude the convicted vessel, the certifier must suspend or withdraw the fishery certificate under Section 7.4 of the MSC General Certification Requirements.
Example
During a routine port inspection, maritime enforcement officers issue a formal shark finning conviction against a longline vessel operating within a certified tuna client group. The compliance lead receives the court judgment, immediately notifies the Conformity Assessment Body, and removes the vessel from the fleet roster.
The certifier conducts an expedited audit, confirms the vessel's exclusion, and publishes the revised vessel list on the scheme database within fifteen days. Because the client group acted proactively, the remaining fleet maintains valid certification, while the excluded vessel remains barred from accessing any MSC certificate for two years.
Common finding: Client groups often fail to notify their certifier immediately after a conviction, assuming they can wait until the annual surveillance audit, which triggers mandatory certificate suspension under General Certification Requirements.
Before your audit
- Verify that a written fins naturally attached or non-retention policy is binding across all fleet vessels.
- Inspect vessel holds to confirm fins remain attached to carcasses by natural skin or muscle.
- Check national judicial registries and enforcement databases for shark finning convictions within the last two years.
- Review electronic monitoring and observer coverage data against Tool B accuracy criteria.
- Ensure vessel captains maintain signed policy declarations acknowledging shark finning prohibitions.
- Verify that landing documentation records whole shark weights and species identifications accurately.
- Confirm procedures exist to notify the certifier immediately if a vessel finning violation occurs.
Questions people ask
What is the MSC fins naturally attached policy?
The MSC fins naturally attached policy requires all retained sharks to be landed with their fins naturally connected to the carcass by skin or muscle. Partially cutting and folding fins is permitted for storage, but artificial reattachment using wire, ropes, or bags is prohibited.
What happens if a vessel in an MSC certified fishery is convicted of shark finning?
The client group must immediately exclude the convicted vessel from the certificate and notify their certifier. The vessel remains out of scope and ineligible to participate in any MSC certified fishery for two years from the exclusion date.
Can a fishery use fin-to-carcass ratios under MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0?
No, version 3.0 eliminates fin-to-carcass ratio exemptions. Fisheries retaining sharks must enforce a strict fins naturally attached policy or operate under a complete non-retention policy.
How do auditors evaluate evidence that shark finning is not taking place?
Under version 3.0, auditors apply the Evidence Requirements Framework in Tool B of the MSC Fisheries Standard Toolbox to verify that monitoring information and enforcement mechanisms achieve a very high degree of accuracy.
Reference documents
- MSC General Certification Requirements version 2.7
- MSC Fisheries Certification Process version 2.3
- MSC Fisheries Certification Process version 3.0
- MSC Fisheries Standard version 2.01
- MSC Fisheries Standard version 3.0
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