Juneau, Alaska – Twenty-seven Alaska salmon processing companies representing approximately 80% of the salmon caught in Alaska have reaffirmed their intent to withdraw support from MSC salmon certification. Recent press reports about the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association (PSVOA) becoming the client for MSC salmon certification have suggested that those same processors would be rejoining the program. Processors say the reports are incorrect.
The announcement by PSVOA and the speculative statements that followed have created some confusion in the market place. In response, Alaska salmon processors have signed an open letter to the editors of various media outlets to clear up any misunderstanding. “We have no intention of supporting MSC certification for salmon beyond the 2012 production,” the letter states. “While we recognize that PSVOA has the right to become the client for MSC salmon, it should not be construed that we have changed our minds about this decision. We fully support the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management certification that has been developed for the industry by ASMI and the State of Alaska. This fully accredited program responds to requests from many of our customers to provide a reasonable alternative to MSC certification.”
The letter, signed by top executives of 10th & M Seafoods, Alaska General Seafoods, Alaska Glacier Seafood, APICDA (Bering Pacific), Alaska Protein Recovery, Boreal Fisheries, Inc., E.C. Phillips & Sons, E&E Foods, Favco, Inc., Great Pacific Seafood, Great Ruby Fish Company, Icicle Seafoods, Icy Strait Seafood, Inlet Fish Producers, Inc., J & R Fisheries, Kwik’PaK Fisheries, Naknek Family Fisheries, North Pacific Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Pacific Seafood Kodiak, Peter Pan Seafoods, Seafood Producers Coop, Snug Harbor Seafoods, Triad Fisheries, Trident Seafoods, Ugashik Wild Salmon Co. and Yukon Gold notes further, “We believe the action to withdraw from the MSC salmon scheme is in the best interest of the Alaska Salmon industry, an industry in which we have invested heavily for the future of Alaska, our fishermen, their families and our companies.”
Source: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute