Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Friend of the Sea certification from everyday products to marine activities and services.
Find answers about our standards, what certification means and how to apply. Whether you are choosing a product or exploring certification for your business, start here.
About Friend of the Sea
What is Friend of the Sea?
Friend of the Sea is an international certification programme within the World Sustainability Organization. It develops standards for products, activities and services connected with the marine environment.
Founded by Paolo Bray in 2008, the programme also supports marine conservation initiatives.
Is Friend of the Sea only for fisheries and aquaculture?
No. The programme also covers categories including omega-3, marine collagen, sunscreen, salt, alternative proteins, aquaria, ornamental fish, ports, shipping and cruise lines, restaurants, cleaners and tourism activities.
Each category has its own requirements. A sunscreen, a fishery and a wildlife-watching operator are assessed against standards relevant to their different activities.
Who oversees the programme?
The Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Technical Committee have defined responsibilities for oversight, strategic advice and technical review. Our team manages the programme’s day-to-day work.
How is Friend of the Sea funded?
The programme is funded primarily through annual fees for authorised use of its logo. Audit costs are separate from these licensing fees.
Understanding the label
What does the Friend of the Sea label mean?
The label identifies products or services certified against the applicable Friend of the Sea standard.
Requirements vary by category and may address sourcing, traceability, habitat protection, animal welfare, pollution prevention or workers’ rights.
To understand what has been assessed, check the relevant standard and the scope of certification.
Does certification cover everything a company sells?
No. Certification applies to the products, species, sites or activities identified within its scope. A certified product within a brand’s range does not mean that every product sold by that brand is certified.
Similarly, using a certified ingredient supplier does not, by itself, establish that a finished product is certified.
How can I find certified products and check their certification?
Look for the Friend of the Sea label and any FOS ID provided. Use the certification directory to review the relevant record, its status and what it covers.
Check that the information matches the product or service you are considering. If you cannot find a matching record or need help understanding it, contact our team.
Applying for certification
How can my business apply?
Submit the application form with details of your products, services or activities. Our team can help identify the relevant standard and explain the next steps.
Who carries out the assessment?
Assessments against all Friend of the Sea standards are carried out by independent certification bodies.
The certification body assesses your products, services or activities against the applicable requirements and makes the certification decision.
Can both wild-caught and farmed seafood be certified?
Yes. Friend of the Sea has separate standards for fisheries and aquaculture. The assessment follows the requirements relevant to the production method and certification scope.
When can an audit start, and how long does certification take?
Timing depends on the applicable standard, the scope of the assessment and the availability of the information required.
The certification body confirms the audit date, expected duration and reporting timetable. Allow time for the assessment, review and any corrective action required before a certification decision.
Can I read the audit requirements in advance?
Yes. Standards and checklists are available through our certification pages. Review the requirements for your category and confirm which version applies with the certification body.
Published auditor checklists help explain what will be assessed. They do not replace the application form or the independent assessment.
What happens after the assessment?
The certification body reviews the findings and makes the certification decision. Where certification is granted, the certificate identifies its scope and validity.
Authorised use of the Friend of the Sea logo is subject to the applicable licensing arrangements.
How much does certification cost?
Certification involves two separate costs:
- Annual licensing fees: fees for authorised use of the Friend of the Sea logo, set out in the applicable price list.
- Audit costs: quoted separately by the certification body, based on the scope and complexity of the assessment.
Consult the price list for your certification category and request an audit quotation from the certification body.
View certification price lists
Standards and participation
How are the standards developed and updated?
Standards are reviewed through the procedures applicable to each programme.
For seafood standards, the process includes technical drafting, stakeholder consultation, Technical Committee voting, validation and Board ratification. Our standards development page explains the process and provides the published procedures and consultation documents.
Can I suggest an improvement to a standard?
Yes. Businesses, consumers, researchers and other interested parties can submit comments through the stakeholder input process or participate in public consultations.
Identify the standard or requirement your comment concerns and include supporting information where available.
How can I apply to join the Technical Committee?
Send an updated CV to info@friendofthesea.org, outlining your relevant experience. Applications are considered through the Committee’s selection procedure.
Can I raise a concern before an audit?
Yes. If you have evidence relevant to a company scheduled for assessment, you can submit it through the objections procedure.
Check the procedure for submission requirements and deadlines so your evidence can be considered before the audit.
How can I complain about a certification decision?
First, submit your complaint to the certification body responsible for the decision, following its complaints procedure.
If the matter remains unresolved, the Friend of the Sea Complaints and Appeals Procedure explains the next steps. It also covers concerns about programme governance, management and standard-setting activities.
How can I report suspected misuse of the label?
Use our reporting form and provide details identifying the product, company or advertisement. Photographs, website links and purchase information can help explain your concern.
Still have a question?
Email info@friendofthesea.org. Include the product, service or certification category you are asking about so we can direct your enquiry.