Wild sockeye, chum and pink salmon in British Columbia has been re-certified for five years by the Marine Stewardship Council.
“This certification will facilitate access to global markets for commercially harvested B.C. wild chum, pink and sockeye salmon,” the MSC said in a statement.
“This affords the market confidence that these fisheries meet the highest independently-established and reviewed sustainability standards,” said Dane Chauvel, chair of the B.C. Salmon Marketing Council. “Moreover, the chum, pink and sockeye salmon harvested in British Columbia provide an attractive and compelling seafood option for those global markets which are seeking alternatives to the products of the illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries that are conducted contradictory to conservation and management measures that have been established by international governing bodies.”
The certification will also “enable independent fishermen to be fairly compensated for adopting sustainable harvesting and quality handling processes,” Chauvel added.
The recertification process was driven by the Canadian Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Society, whose 28 members represent BC salmon processors.
