ASPA issues rules for Alaska salmon MSC cost sharing

The Alaska Salmon Processors Association (ASPA) on Tuesday issued cost-sharing rules for entities wishing to join the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) program and market Alaska salmon with the eco-label.

In a letter to the MSC, ASPA said its client group will be limited to commercial salmon operations working with MSC-certified fisheries, which represent the bulk of the state’s salmon harvest (exceptions include fish from Prince William Sound).

Costs associated with the fishery assessment, surveillances and client management will be fractionally shared by the individual client group members in relation to the total round pounds of salmon harvested by client members in 2012.

Those entering the client group after 10 April 2014, when ASPA assumed client responsibilities, shall pay the same proportionate share they would have incurred if they were members of the original certification client, the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association.

Retroactive payments shall be redistributed to the then existing client group members or retained by ASPA to fund future costs. Any changes to the composition of the client group membership shall be in accordance with the ASPA organizational documents.

A group of 10 major Alaska salmon processors in early April decided to rejoin the MSC program after abandoning it in 2012, citing a large projected run of sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay and the requirements of certain markets, mainly in Europe, for the MSC label. At Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium, last week, Alaska salmon representatives said they would still support the Responsible Fishery Management certification program intended to replace MSC certification. The RFM program will be participating in a Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) pilot program to align with the most up-to-date benchmarking requirements.

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