VeriFish - D2.3 – Guidelines for the use of seafood verifiable indicators

These Guidelines provide a structured communication framework for describing sustainability-related information about fishery and aquaculture products in a transparent, evidence-based, and legally aware manner. They are intended for producers, processors, retailers, food service operators, consumer organisations, and policymakers who need to communicate environmental, socio-economic, and nutritional characteristics of seafood responsibly. The Guidelines do not constitute legal advice and do not function as a certification scheme, product approval system, or regulatory instrument. The framework is organised around three distinct pillars: Environmental, Socio-economic, and Nutritional. Each pillar contains defined indicators that describe measurable aspects of performance. Indicators may be communicated descriptively or, where scientifically or regulatorily defined reference points exist, translated into scores using a distance-to-target approach. This method expresses performance relative to benchmarks rather than ranking products against one another. Where evidence is incomplete, precautionary interpretation or withholding of a score may be necessary to avoid overstating certainty. Evidence is structured through a tiered logic. Tier 1 relies on publicly available, harmonised datasets, while Tier 2 refers to verified and auditable information provided by value-chain actors. All communicated information must be traceable to documented sources, clearly defined methodologies, and explicitly stated scope conditions. Communication outputs are treated as versioned and auditable, enabling organisations to demonstrate what was communicated, on what evidentiary basis, and at what point in time. Responsibility for regulatory compliance, claim substantiation, and supply-chain traceability remains with the operator placing information on the market.The Guidelines provide operational principles for visualisation and deployment across packaging, retail environments, digital platforms, and educational or campaign contexts. Icons represent categories of information rather than performance judgements. Colour scales must be benchmarked and explained. Layered communication, such as QR-linked access to structured indicator pages, supports concise presentation while preserving transparency and proportionality. The objective of the framework is to reduce greenwashing risk, strengthen credibility, and improve clarity in seafood sustainability communication. The communication principles and procedures described are derived from the development work of the VeriFish project and informed by stakeholder consultation and pilot deployment. While elements of the framework have been tested in prototype applications, ongoing refinement and validation remain part of its continued implementation. These Guidelines therefore represent best-practice recommendations designed to support disciplined, transparent, and accountable communication, without implying endorsement, certification authority, or regulatory status.