|
Senator Lisa Murkowski. (Photo Credit: United States Congress)
GSA modifies its policy over fishing certification
UNITED STATES
Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 04:50 (GMT + 9)
The new legislation introduced by US Senator Lisa Murkowski, which restricts the use of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, has been welcomed with open arms by Alaska's fishing industry.
Senator Murkowski felt satisfied with the news that the General Services Administration (GSA) has completed an internal review of its "flawed" federal indictment for fish certification, which allowed third parties' ecological approval to determine what the government considers "sustainable seafood".
The changes to the policy were published on Monday by the GSA in its "Health and Sustainability Guidelines".
According to these guidelines, the GSA will not allow non-governmental organizations that "certify" sustainable fishing practices to determine what fish sources can supply federal government agencies.
Since October last year, the MSC has stopped evaluating Alaska salmon, after eight major processing firms from Alaska withdrew their financial support in favor of what the foundation Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Inc. called for a "broader marketing message," recalled the Juneau Empire.
“I appreciate the GSA reviewing its policy allowing 3rd party certifiers to have an undue influence on federal decision-making by determining what seafood is allowed to be procured by federal agencies for our National Parks nationwide, troops overseas, or our own school children, Senator Murkowski said.
"Not too long ago, wild Alaska salmon served as the flagship species for sustainability around the world. Now some NGO are disparaging the “sustainability” of Alaska salmon, all the while having political agendas, lacking transparency, and using their certification schemes to inappropriately influence federal and state fisheries management. I look forward to seeing the National Park Service work to make similar adjustments to their internal policies,” she added.
Related article:
- 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
|
Print
