Smart Catch: Verified Seafood Sustainability for Restaurants & Chefs
Smart Catch fosters responsible seafood sourcing and a shared commitment to ocean health.
Your Partner in Responsible Seafood Sourcing
WFCF’s Smart Catch is the go-to seafood sustainability and verification program for restaurants, chefs, and seafood buyers who want to demonstrate responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. Developed with chefs in mind, Smart Catch helps foodservice teams showcase their commitment to ocean-friendly menu choices, traceable supply chains, and science-based sustainable seafood practices.
Whether you are an independent restaurant, multi-location group, hotel or resort foodservice, or a seafood distributor, Smart Catch provides the tools, assessment, and recognition needed to build trust with your guests and customers. Participants earn the Smart Catch seal, a visible mark of credibility that signals sustainably sourced seafood, menu verification, and alignment with responsible fishing practices.
From menu assessment and scoring to actionable recommendations and ongoing verification, Smart Catch simplifies the process of adopting sustainable seafood practices while helping chefs and restaurants communicate their commitment with confidence.
While Smart Catch itself in not a certification standard, it incorporates and aligns with several widely recognized sustainability benchmarks, including:
Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
Offering science-based recommendations to guide purchasing decisions across wild-caught and farmed seafood.
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
A global certification program for responsible aquaculture that meets stringent environmental and social criteria.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
A leading certification for sustainable wild-capture fisheries, ensuring limited environmental impact and effective fisheries management.
Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) Smart Catch references certifying bodies acknowledged by GSSI, reinforcing credible, internationally benchmarked seafood sustainability standards.
What is Smart Catch?
Smart Catch is a third-party seafood sustainability program designed specifically for restaurants, chefs, and seafood buyers. Verified by Where Food Comes From, it helps foodservice teams demonstrate responsible sourcing, traceable supply chains, and eco-friendly seafood practices. The program combines menu assessment, scoring, and recommendations to ensure your seafood choices are both sustainable and verifiable.
Why Sustainability Matters in Seafood
Sustainable seafood is no longer optional. Consumers expect restaurants to source responsibly, and chefs play a crucial role in guiding these choices. Globally, overfishing, bycatch, and habitat destruction threaten ocean health. Programs like Smart Catch empower restaurants to align with consumer expectations, reduce environmental impact, and showcase sustainably sourced seafood that supports healthy oceans.
How Smart Catch Works
Sign Up & Onboarding
You submit a short interest form or contact the team to get started.
Data Collection
You provide a simple spreadsheet listing the seafood items you’ve sourced over the past six months (species, supplier, origin, wild/farmed status, any certifications).
Sustainability Assessment
Smart Catch reviews your sourcing list against its criteria and calculates an overall score. You receive a detailed report showing how each item rates and where improvements are possible.
Feedback & Recommendations
You receive tailored substitution options and recommendations based on your current sourcing performance and sustainability goals.
Recognition & Ongoing Support
If you meet the 80 % benchmark, you earn the Smart Catch seal. The program continues to support you with reassessments, updates, and tools to improve further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We're here to help.