MSC certification of Alaska salmon expires by the end of October. (Photo: Stock File)

Alaskan salmon industry drops MSC certification programme

UNITED STATES
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 23:30 (GMT + 9)

The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) said eight major primary salmon processors are phasing out their financial support for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) salmon certification programme. AFDF will thus not maintain MSC salmon certification beyond 29 October 2012.

These processors make up about 72 per cent of the state’s salmon harvest. They said they will support the MSC scheme for Alaska salmon only through October 2012, when the current certificate expires.

The processors include Trident Seafoods, Icicle Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Peter Pan Seafoods, Alaska General Seafoods, E & E Foods, Kwikpak Fisheries and North Pacific Seafoods.

“The majority of these processors now feel it is time to redirect their resources toward a broader marketing message”, AFDF Executive Director Jim Browning told.

All Alaska salmon harvested during the 2012 fishing season will still be eligible to carry the MSC logo and be sold as certified if the participating parties maintain valid MSC Chain of Custody certification, AFDF noted.
 
However, the 2nd Recertification that AFDF just initiated with Intertek Moody Marine (IMM) would have to be completed to continue the MSC certification beyond October.

AFDF was asked to take over the clientship for MSC certification of Alaska salmon in December 2009, after Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) announced it was giving up its related responsibilities. When AFDF found broad support from the primary salmon processors for retention of MSC certification for Alaska salmon, AFDF took over in February 2010.

Since receiving letters from the aforementioned eight Alaska Salmon Processors, the AFDF Board of Directors decided to instruct Browning to continue only with the actions necessary to maintain the MSC certification of Alaska salmon through October.

“The message from major sponsors was clear, and swift Board action was necessary to resolve the issue and quell speculation and confusion in the salmon market”, Browning wrote.

AFDF will thus proceed with its work as MSC salmon client only to the extent that it meets the obligations necessary to keep the 2012 Alaska Salmon harvest eligible to carry the MSC logo. This will give Alaska salmon processors and Alaska salmon customers who maintain their Chain of Custody certificates time to adjust their packaging and marketing messages.

"We regret that the Alaska salmon fishery is being withdrawn from the assessment underway for a potential third certification period",  MSC Americas Regional Director Kerry Coughlin said, The Seattle Times reports. "While there are other sources of MSC-certified salmon, Alaska was an early and important leader in the programme."

She expressed hope that some Alaska salmon processors will obtain certification on their own.

Browning stressed that the transition away from MSC certification of Alaska Salmon will not affect the ongoing MSC certification of Pacific cod in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands or the Gulf of Alaska.

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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