Sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. (Photo Credit: NOAA)

Alaskan salmon fishery close to achieving MSC certification

UNITED STATES
Thursday, October 10, 2013, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association has pushed up to get Alaska's salmon fishery re-certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and its efforts seem to be close to success.

The MSC reported that after the conclusion of the comment period on the draft report for the Alaska salmon fishery, and after the examination of the reports issued by the evaluation team and the peer review panel, and the comments of the stakeholders, the certifying agency determined that the Alaska's salmon fishery should be recertified according to the MSC standard.

MSC has been very clear to point out that this report is not a final certification result. Consequently, this fishery cannot use the MSC approved label on any product made with Alaskan salmon.

Following this, any party that does not agree with this report has to wait 15 days before lodging an objection.

The Alaska salmon fishery was MSC certified for the first time in 2000 and re-certified in 2007. It is only one fishery with five species, divided into 14 units. The five species are: sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), chum (Oncorhynchus keta), chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha).

The MSC reports indicates that out of the 14 units 13 meet the required criteria for re-certification and only Prince William Sound unit is recommended to stay in assessment, reports KDLG.

This assessment depends on an analysis by the Department of Fish and Game regarding wild salmon interactions and hatchery as well as on evidence regarding hatchery salmon releases on the herring productivity in Prince William Sound.

If and when the Alaska's salmon fishery achieves MSC re-certification, only the firms that have signed up with the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association will have the right to use such label.

MSC's sustainability certification fell in disgrace after the majority of Alaskan companies withdrew their support. MSC's certification methods have been both questioned and doubted making the companies seek alternative sources of sustainability certification.

MSC has recently defended its posture in an open letter which addressed the issue.

Related articles:

- MSC answers back to questionable seafood certification claims
- New legislation restricts MSC certification use

By Gabriela Raffaele
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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