The need for sustainable fisheries and the conservation of marine biodiversity are both internationally recognised. Both IUCN and the FAO share the goals of supporting and strengthening international and national efforts to improve the management of fisheries, coastal areas and marine biodiversity. In principle, eco-labelling has been endorsed by the international community as one of the tools that can help improve environmental management through market-based means. However, its applica tion to natural resource sectors has proven complicated and often controversial. The goal of this publication, jointly supported by IUCN and FAO, is to outline clearly some of the complications and concerns as well as the benefits in an objective fashion to provide an informed basis for moving forward.