An agreement between the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and The Fishin’ Company will pave the way for the Dungeness crab fishery in Oregon to seek Marine Stewardship Council certification.
The memorandum of agreement signed on 7 March will see The Fishin’ Company, a Munhall, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.-based company that is a major buyer of the crab, provide financial resources and personnel to work alongside the fishery as it enters the MSC pre-assessment process.
“The Oregon Dungeness crab fishery is committed to a sustainable fishery through proven methods of management,” The Fishin’ Company Director of Sustainability Justin Baugh said. “They are focused on continuous improvement through science-based research and we believe the ODCC should be recognized for this and are excited to place our support behind them.”
The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission is an industry-funded agency and part of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Commission Program, with the mission of enhancing the image of the Dungeness crab industry, and increasing opportunities for profitability through promotion, education, and research.
“We look forward to completing the process and prove once again that the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery is truly a well-managed, sustainable fishery,” ODCC Executive Director Hugh Link said. “Working with ForSea Solutions and Fishin’ Company will allow us to tap their incredible expertise and knowledge throughout the pre-assessment process.”
ForSea Solutions of Portland, Oregon will provide technical consulting on the project, working directly with the ODCC, according to a press release.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our organization to work with the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery, to showcase their sustainable fishing practices and help them achieve this certification milestone by providing our technical guidance,” ForSea Solutions Founder Natalia Novikova said.
