MSC Rejects Effort to Remove Southeast Alaska Salmon from Accredited List
The Marine Stewardship Council has rejected efforts of the Vancouver, Canada environmental entity Ocean Wise to remove sustainability credentials for Southeast Alaska salmon.
In a July 18 statement, MSC called into question recommendations of the nonprofit environmental group to have MSC reverse its recommendation of Southeast Alaska salmon as a sustainable fishery.
MSC said that in the case of the ongoing objection to the fourth recertification of Alaska salmon that it’s confident in the rigor and transparency of the third-party assessment process, and that its conclusion supports strengthening and improving fishery performance and uphold the principles for credible sustainability program.
The Southeast Alaska salmon fishery’s MSC certificate remains valid, and landings can be sold with the MSC blue label, MSC said.
“Fishery certificates are good for five years, with the current certificate expiring Nov. 11, 2024,” the Council said.
The outcome of the recertification assessment is to be determined on the conclusion of the ongoing objection process currently being led by an impartial independent adjudicator, the organization added.
Ocean Wise announced last week that it has dropped its recommendation of MSC-certified salmon fisheries in Southeast Alaska because of concerns over incidental catch of southern Pacific salmon and the impact of that bycatch on food for endangered Southern Resident orca whales in the Puget Sound area.
A statement issued by Ocean Wise contends that the Southeast Alaska salmon fishery has been intercepting and harvesting salmon stocks “inseparable or practically inseparable from B.C., Washington and Oregon stocks.”
“Evidence suggests that a significant proportion of these stocks are harvested within Southeast Alaska fisheries and are currently outside of their biologically based limits, compromising southern ecosystems,” Ocean Wise said.
