Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS)

Membership details for the Responsible Fishing Scheme.

The Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme is a voluntary vessel based programme certifying high standards of crew welfare and responsible catching practices on fishing vessels.

The independently audited scheme demonstrates that a vessel and its skipper are operating to best practice in 5 core areas:

• Safety, health and welfare
• Training and professional development
• The vessel and its mission
• Care of the catch
• Care for the environment.

Established in 2006, the scheme is open to all types of fishing vessels and fisheries. The RFS was developed by Seafish to enable the skippers of RFS certified vessels to demonstrate their compliance with industry best practice and thus enable the supply chain to demonstrate its commitment to responsible sourcing by buying from such vessels.

It is the only programme certifying crew welfare and responsible catching practices on vessels, complementing other fishery-based sustainability certifications and contributing to this sector's long term viability.

In 2014 the scheme underwent a complete review and is being formally re-launched in mid-2015. The modified RFS will feature a combined standard for both single handed and crewed vessels. 

There is a robust Governance structure in place led by the RFS Oversight Board who are responsible for the strategic direction and objectives of the scheme.

All applicants should be aware of the Acoura Certifiction Regulations.