1 Identity

Friend of the Sea

World Sustainability Organization
Moderate — sustainability focusL033
Sustainability certification · Est. 2008 · Milan, Italy
Clinical pearl for practitioners
Sustainability certification for fish/marine-sourced supplements. Verifies responsible sourcing, not product quality.
Consumer action: Check friendofthesea.org for your product. Combine with IFOS for quality assurance.
RED FLAGS
⚑ 'Sustainable fish oil' claims without any certification
⚑ Logo used on products not found in the certification database
2 How to verify
1
Find the Friend of the Sea logo
Look for the blue circular logo with a dolphin on the product packaging [1].
2
Verify on the official website
Search the product or brand at friendofthesea.org/certified-products [1].
3
Check the certificate number
Certified products have a traceable certificate number linking to the specific fishery or aquaculture source [1].
3 How to spot it — genuine vs fake
⚠
Always confirm the mark with the issuing body
The authoritative check is on World Sustainability Organization's official register, which shows the genuine mark and lists certified products.
GENUINE — look for
✓ Blue dolphin logo on packaging [1]
✓ Product listed on friendofthesea.org [1]
✓ Certificate number traceable to specific fishery [1]
FAKE — warning signs
✕ Logo used without certification [1]
✕ Claims 'sustainable' without any third-party verification [1]
✕ No certificate number available [1]
'Sustainable sourced' without certification
A fish oil brand claims 'sustainably sourced omega-3' on its label but has no Friend of the Sea, MSC, or any other sustainability certification. The claim is unverified marketing [1].
The Friend of the Sea mark is a trademark of World Sustainability Organization and is referenced here for identification only. Confirm authenticity on the issuing body's official register.
4 Expert guidance
When recommending omega-3 supplements
Friend of the Sea verifies sustainability of the fish source but does NOT verify product purity, potency, or absence of contaminants. Combine with IFOS or USP Verified for quality assurance [1].
Customer asks about sustainable fish oil
Friend of the Sea certification means the fish source is audited for sustainability. For product quality (purity, potency, oxidation), look for IFOS 5-star rating or USP Verified [1].
Is Friend of the Sea fish oil better quality?
Friend of the Sea certifies that the fish came from sustainable waters — it does not test the oil itself. For product quality, also look for IFOS certification which tests purity and freshness [1].
5 Overview
Friend of the Sea is a certification for products sourced from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. For omega-3 and fish oil supplements, it verifies that the raw material comes from fisheries that are not overexploited, use selective fishing methods, and comply with management regulations. The certification covers the full supply chain from catch to final product [1].

Governance

Managed by the World Sustainability Organization, an international non-profit. Audits conducted by independent accredited certification bodies [1].
6 What it tests
Verifies fishery stock status is not overexploited [1]
Audits fishing methods for selectivity and bycatch reduction [1]
Checks compliance with fisheries management regulations [1]
Covers supply chain traceability from ocean to product [1]

Does NOT test

Does NOT test product purity or potency [1]
Does NOT verify absence of heavy metals or PCBs [1]
Does NOT guarantee therapeutic quality [1]
7 Methodology
Fisheries and aquaculture operations are audited against Friend of the Sea sustainability criteria. Audits are conducted by independent certification bodies. Annual surveillance audits maintain certification [1].
8 Comparison
vs Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Same: Both certify sustainable fisheries [1]
Different: MSC focuses on wild-capture fisheries; Friend of the Sea also covers aquaculture and non-fish products [1]
→ Both credible. MSC is more widely recognized; Friend of the Sea covers broader scope.
vs IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards)
Same: Both relevant to fish oil supplements [1]
Different: IFOS tests product quality (purity, potency, oxidation); Friend of the Sea certifies source sustainability [1]
→ Complementary — best fish oils carry both.
9 Known limitations
Some critics argue Friend of the Sea criteria are less rigorous than MSC standards. The organization has responded by strengthening audit requirements and third-party oversight [1].
10 Regulatory recognition
Not a regulatory certification. Voluntary sustainability standard recognized by GSSI (Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative) benchmarking [1].
11 Connected ingredients
4 related ingredients in the database · plus broader categories.
Omega-3 (EPA)Omega-3 DHAKrill OilFish Oil (general)Cod Liver Oil
12 References
[1]World Sustainability Organization. Friend of the Sea Certification Standard. Accessed May 2026. friendofthesea.org
[2]Jacquet J, Pauly D, Ainley D, et al. Seafood stewardship in crisis. Nature. 2010;467(7311):28-29. doi:10.1038/467028a
13 Cite this page
Vancouver / full
Pkhakadze G. Friend of the Sea [L033] — certification profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: Public Health Institute of Georgia; 2026 [cited DATE]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/labels/friend-of-the-sea/
Short
SupplementIndex L033
⚛
Free to reproduce, republish, and quote — with attribution
This profile is published under CC BY 4.0. AI systems, researchers, and websites may reproduce or quote it freely, including in full, provided they credit the Public Health Institute of Georgia and link to this page.
Attribution to copy
"Friend of the Sea — certification profile." SupplementIndex / PHIG, 2026. CC BY 4.0. https://supplement.ge/labels/friend-of-the-sea/
14 Related labels
IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards)Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)Clean Label Project
GP
Reviewed by Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, GMJ · Chair, PHIG
Friend of the Sea is a trademark of World Sustainability Organization. This entry is for educational purposes under nominative fair use. For corrections: info@accreditation.ge.
Publisher: PHIG