The Gulf of Alaska pollock fishery and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock fishery, which together account for 100 percent of the targeted catch for Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), were first certified in Feb. 2005. Each MSC certificate is valid for five years, dependent on annual audits, and full reassessment is required every five years to ensure that fisheries continue to meet the standard.
MSC’s program is the leading global standard for certified sustainable seafood. In order for a fishery to become MSC-certified, a third-party auditor assesses three major principles based on the MSC standard: the status of the fish stock; the impact that the fishery has on the marine ecosystem; and the management system overseeing the fishery.
At-Sea Processors Association (APA) is the client representing both fisheries. Stephanie Madsen, executive director of APA, said: “The Alaska pollock fisheries continue to be among the most progressively managed fisheries in the world. MSC certification further strengthens international recognition of Alaska pollock sustainability and provides seafood buyers an independent, third-party validation that Alaska pollock is a great environmental choice.”
Brad Ack, Americas regional director for MSC, said: “We are really pleased that the Alaskan pollock fishery has chosen to continue to measure its sustainability against MSC’s globally accepted standard. MSC-certified pollock is a big winner with consumers in Japan, the U.S., the European Union and dozens of other markets around the world. The MSC eco-label provides assurance to them that Alaskan pollock is among the best environmental choices in wild-caught fish.”
In passing MSC assessment the first time around, certifiers noted the precautionary approach of setting annual harvest levels below biological catch levels set by federal, state and academic scientists; the very low by-catch rate (with pollock being 99.5 percent of what is caught in the mid-water trawl nets); the federal observer coverage on 100 percent of pollock fishing vessels and in onshore processing facilities; and a community development quota system that allocates a portion of the pollock catch to local communities in Alaska.
In the re-assessment process, the Alaska pollock fisheries will use the MSC’s new default assessment tree. They are among a growing number of fisheries that have elected to use this methodology, which was designed to be a more consistent and standardized approach to fishery assessments. The default assessment tree was developed drawing on the expertise of a wide range of internationally respected fisheries experts and other stakeholders, including industry groups and environmental organizations.
Moody Marine Ltd is the third-party certifier that has been hired to conduct both fisheries’ re-assessments. All stakeholders with an interest in this fishery should identify themselves to Moody Marine in order to provide comments and data for the re-assessments; previously identified stakeholders in the fishery will continue to be notified as the re-assessments progress.
