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MSC Regional Director, Kerry Coughlin. (Photo Credit: MSC)
MSC answers back to questionable seafood certification claims
UNITED STATES
Friday, September 27, 2013, 23:40 (GMT + 9)
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) addresses what the certification entity considers negative and inaccurate statements about the MSC programme made by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), Alaska elected officials and trade journal reporting in an official open letter.
According to the MSC, its certification programme has been beneficial for Alaskan fisheries as they provide credible, independent, third-party scientific confirmation of fishery sustainability.
The open letter, which has just been published, tackles the issue which questions the programme quite harshly by stating that the whole polemic around MSC's certification has been framed wrongly and narrowly. It goes as far as questioning the credibility of Alaska's elected officials which, MSC claims, have launched a 'negative and misleading campaign' against them.
MSC considers the statements about their certification programme are inaccurate and has stated that they are the product of escalating misinformation by the ASMI and unsupported conclusions, making John Sackton of Seafood News specifically responsible for these.
The certification programme has been particularly offended for having been excluded from the hearing on sustainable food certification held by the US Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee a few days ago.
On the other hand, MSC also admits that other organizations have the right to create their own certification programmes and that they are 'not concerned with being a monopoly'.
Besides, the MSC points out in its written statement that it has been working in close collaboration with ASMI for many years in a spirit of cooperativeness. They call themselves an 'open, transparent and participatory' organization and stress they are not interested in 'monopolizing a brand'.
The MSC also strongly rejects accusations of ever acting as fishery managers, stressing the objectivity and scientific basis of their methods.
The letter, signed by MSC's Regional Director, Kerry Coughlin, ends by inviting anyone and everyone engaged in the seafood industry to contact her to discuss the MSC program should they wish to do so.
Related articles:
- GSA modifies its policy over fishing certification
- New legislation restricts MSC certification use
- Alaska's government in talks with Walmart over seafood certification
- 'Non-sustainable' Alaskan wild salmon rejected again
By Gabriela Raffaele
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
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