The press communiqué has revealed that the fisheries, located in the Gulf of Alaska (GoA) and in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI), were assessed and found to be sustainable and well managed. Director of Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association Al Burch told that this certification is good for the cod business. He added that they are really happy over the work which means it will be easier to sell and get a better price.
It is fact that North America, Europe and Asia are the primary markets for Pacific cod. Having the MSC certification is a big boost for cod in the European market. Burch informed that in the European market MSC is very important. He added that the European market appreciates the Alaskan label. Wild Alaska has a mystique in Europe.
Getting MSC certificate is no doubt a big achievement for any fisheries because MSC promotes solutions to the issue of over-fishing. It also runs the only certification and ecolabeling program for wild-capture fisheries consistent with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards and the United Nations FAO guidelines for fisheries certification.
The certification body for both the fisheries was Moody Marine Ltd. The assessments were guided by MSC’s three main principles: status of the fish stock, impact of the fishery on the marine ecosystem and the management system overseeing the fishery. Burch informed that the total allowable catch of Pacific cod in the BSAI management area for all gear types in 2010 is 168,780 tons, and the total allowable catch in the GoA for all gear types is 59,563 tons.
