Photo courtesy of Community Catch

NSF Awards World-First Community Catch Certification to Orkney Crab Fishery

10 July 2026

Milestone certification sets a new benchmark for small-scale fishery sustainability and social responsibility

OXFORD, UK, July 13, 2026 — NSF, a leading global organisation dedicated to protecting and advancing human health, today announced that Orkney Crab has become the first fishery in the world to achieve certification to the Community Catch standard for small-scale fisheries.

The certification recognises Orkney Crab’s responsible fishing practices, environmental stewardship and social compliance processes, setting an important milestone for small-scale fisheries seeking credible third-party assurance.

Small-scale fisheries contribute an estimated 40% of the global fish catch and employ over 90% of the world’s capture fishers, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. However, many small-scale fisheries face barriers to certification due to cost and complexity. Community Catch was developed to address these challenges through a practical framework tailored to the operational realities and resource constraints of community-based fishing operations.

Community Catch provides independent, third-party verification that a fishery operates in accordance with comprehensive criteria covering environmental stewardship, labour rights due diligence, health and safety and responsible social practices. The framework incorporates criteria from FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) guidance, ensuring rigorous assessment of both environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

Orkney Crab’s achievement is an important milestone for NSF, Community Catch and small-scale fisheries around the world. It shows that robust environmental and social requirements can be applied in a practical way for community-based fisheries, giving buyers credible, independently verified assurance for responsible sourcing, delivering measurable benefits to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.”

Dr. Gemma Quilez-Badia, Technical Manager, Food Production, NSF

The Orkney Crab fleet is made up primarily of vessels under 10 meters in length and uses low-impact, selective pot-fishing methods designed to minimise habitat disturbance and bycatch. The fishery also maintains catch sizes approximately 10% above legal minimum requirements to support stock health and long-term sustainability.

Orkney Crab processes over 1,500 metric tons of brown crab annually, contributing over £6 million to the local economy and providing income to island communities throughout Orkney. Its products are supplied to major UK retailers and exported to European and international markets.

Community Catch certification provides independent verification of the responsible practices our fishermen have maintained for generations. This achievement strengthens our ability to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility to buyers and consumers who increasingly require verified credentials.”

Paul Knight, Managing Director, Orkney Crab

For seafood buyers, the certification provides independent assurance that Orkney Crab has been assessed against criteria covering environmental management, responsible fishing, labour rights due diligence, health and safety, and social responsibility.

This certification supports broader industry efforts to promote responsible sourcing and enhance transparency in seafood supply chains. As market demand for verified sustainable seafood continues to grow, the Community Catch standard offers small-scale fisheries such as Orkney Crab, a credible way to demonstrate environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

During Community Catch’s first year of implementation, it has been a real pleasure to work with Orkney Crab as one of the first fisheries to progress through the programme. Orkney Crab is a strong example of what Community Catch was designed to recognise: organised fishing communities, responsible fishing practices, committed processors, and supply chain partners working together to demonstrate environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and due diligence on labour rights, health and safety. This milestone shows how Community Catch can provide a practical and credible pathway for small-scale fisheries to demonstrate responsible practices and continue their improvement journey.”

Linda Wood, CEO of Community Catch

For more information about NSF’s food, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries certification and assurance services, visit nsf.org/food-beverage/food-agriculture-aquaculture-fisheries.

---ENDS---

Media contact: Steven MacEwan, media@nsf.org

High-resolution images, interview opportunities and further information are available on request.

Notes to editors:

About NSF

For more than 80 years, NSF has helped businesses and consumers navigate complexity with confidence through science-driven standards, rigorous testing, certification, research and advisory services across food, water and wellness. Guided by its purpose to protect and advance human health, NSF works to strengthen trust in products, systems and services people rely on every day. From scientific expertise and standards development to testing and certification, NSF helps organizations raise the bar for quality, safety, transparency and compliance around the world. Learn more at nsf.org.

About Community Catch Certification

Community Catch is a unique global initiative that promotes Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability to empower small-scale fishing communities through an affordable, accessible, and credible certification standard. By connecting responsible fishers with seafood markets and supporting continuous improvements across fisheries and supply chains, Community Catch helps strengthen coastal livelihoods, protect marine ecosystems, and advance a more equitable and sustainable seafood sector.

About Orkney Crab

Based in Stromness, Orkney Crab operates from a BRC-accredited, purpose-built factory in the heart of the Orkney Islands. As a leading processor of locally caught shellfish, the company purchases, processes, and sells high-quality brown crab (Cancer Pagurus) to the UK retail market and beyond. Renowned for its sustainable practices and commitment to quality, Orkney Crab works closely with local fishermen to ensure the highest standards from catch to consumer.