Sustainable and responsible fisheries management is of a fundamental importance as fisheries are one of the main pillars of the Icelandic economy. Given this fact, the current management policy of the Icelandic government strongly advocates responsible fisheries through ecologically and economically sustainable management of the living marine resources. In response to increased participation of fisheries in the North Atlantic region, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which certifies and promotes the best environmental choice in seafood, has recently opened a regional office in Reykjavik. Today 45% of the catches in the North East Atlantic are taken by fisheries that are certified or in full-assessment against the MSC standards. Since 2010 an increasing number of fisheries in Iceland and the Faroe Islands have entered the MSC program, which has never been more successful in this region.