U.S. Senator Mark Begich (pictured) from Alaska sent a letter to Michael Duke, Walmart president and COO, on Monday urging the company to re-evaluate its decision to only allow Marine Stewardship Council certified seafood in its stores.
“The MSC’s effort to promote sustainable fisheries has become more of burden than a boost to sustainable fishing in Alaska,” said Begich. “Alaskans wrote the book on responsible, sustainable fisheries management. To have to try to comply with the moving target that is MSC standards is not only unrealistic, it’s insulting.”
“Alaska was one of the world’s leaders on fisheries sustainability decades before MSC was even founded.
“We still are a world leader on fisheries management. We stand by our record of fishery management. We stand by out fish. And Walmart customers should be able to purchase Alaska seafood products — the original sustainable seafood.”
Begich did applaud Walmart’s corporate commitment to sustainability but urged the company to consider other reliable and certified suppliers with a proven track record of fisheries sustainability.
