Fishing in muddy waters: Exploring the conditions for effective governance of fisheries and aquaculture

► We explore the conditions for effective transnational fisheries and aquaculture governance through certification and labeling. ► Complex problem-structure presents an obstacle to effective governance of marine resources. ► Environmental standards are not particularly stringent overall and the quality of the audit exhibits significant variation. ► Discrimination in access can be observed affecting primarily civil society organizations and Southern actors. ► Uptake has been modest so far, particularly in aquaculture, but trends are promising.