The bulk of the Alaska salmon harvest in the 2013 season is expected to be certified under the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-based Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) program, according to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
"We want buyers to understand that approximately 80 percent of the salmon harvest will be available under the RFM certification program," said Michael Cerne, Executive Director for ASMI.
Along with the RFM-certified catches, ASMI also said “a limited supply” of Marine Stewardship Council(MSC)-certified salmon may be available if the MSC finishes its assessment process by the planned completion date in July.
"Alaska's dedication to sustainability predates any eco-label — in fact, Alaska is the only state in the U.S. to have it written into its constitution,” said ASMI Board Chairman Joe Bundrant. “However, we understand the need in some markets for independent verification, which is why we chose to participate in the RFM certification program. We are pleased that the list of Alaska companies with RFM chain of custody continues to grow."
