The Alaskan salmon fishery has met all Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard requirements related to its hatcheries after a recent audit, allowing it to continue possessing its certification.
MRAG Americas, an independent assessment body, determined Alaska’s salmon fishery met the MSC’s hatchery management standards, which include comprehensive marking of hatchery-produced salmon to track the origin of fish to certain hatcheries. The tracking is designed to allow fishery managers to assess and regulate fishery contributions and interactions between hatchery salmon and wild salmon.
“The MSC audit confirmed that Alaska’s hatchery management practices and strategies align with wild salmon conservation policies, ensuring long-term sustainability,” MSC said in a press release.
The successful audit means Alaska’s salmon fishery has managed to maintain its MSC certification for 25 years after successfully undergoing and passing audits for recertification every five years.
“This achievement was possible through dedicated efforts by the Alaska Fishery Development Foundation, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's (ADF&G) Commercial Fisheries Division, and Alaska Private Non-Profit Hatchery Corporations and reinforces Alaska’s commitment to environmentally sustainable fishing under MSC certification,” MSC said.
The MSC also said the State of Alaska Hatchery Research Project played a role in the recertification. Led by ADF&G, along with a panel of state, federal, and academic scientists, the project evaluated interactions between hatchery salmon and wild salmon.
“The latest MSC audit reaffirmed that wild salmon populations continue to thrive, maintaining the necessary genetic integrity to remain productive into the future,” MSC said.
The 25-year run of certification makes Alaska’s salmon fishery one of the longest-running MSC certified fisheries in the world. The fishery was among the first certified to the MSC standard after its creation in 1999.
