The U.S. Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska halibut and sablefish fisheries have earned Marine Stewardship Council re-certification, the London-based program announced on Tuesday.
The fisheries were originally certified as sustainable and well-managed in April 2006. The client, the Fishing Vessel Owners Association and Deep Sea Fishermen’s Union, entered the fisheries into re-certification in May 2010.
The halibut fishery is a bottom hook and longline fishery that uses hook size and design to harvest the target species while minimizing incidental bycatch or impact on the marine ecosystem. Beside Alaska, a small portion of the harvest occurs off of Washington. The harvest totals about 24,000 metric tons annually, with North America the major market for the catch and some being exported to Europe.
The sablefish fishery is a longline fishery. The harvest totals about 18,000 metric tons annually and the primary market is Japan, although the U.S. market is growing.
The fisheries are managed by NOAA Fisheries, North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The International Pacific Halibut Commission also helps manage the halibut fishery.
“The recertification to the MSC standard of these two important fisheries confirms to buyers and consumers worldwide that the fisheries continue to be responsibly managed, and products from them that bear the MSC label can be traced back to sustainable Alaskan fisheries,” said Kerry Coughlin, MSC-Americas director.
British Columbia’s halibut fishery is also MSC certified, receiving the distinction in September 2009.
