The Russian Pollock Sustainability Alliance Companies issued a statement this week supporting Intertek Moody’s decision to recommend Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, despite objections from two stakeholders.
Following the assessment and Moody’s recommendation, The World Wildlife Fund and the Alaska-based At-Sea Processors Association both issued separate objections to the MSC granting certification.
While the alliance did not address the specific objections, the statement spoke in general terms praising Moody and promising to “co-operate within the framework of the MSC rules to provide any relevant input as a registered stakeholder at this stage in the MSC process.”
The alliance, made up of companies such as Gorton’s, High Liner Foods and Young’s Seafood, supported Moody’s credibility as an assessor.
“The Russian Pollock Fisheries management system has been assessed in immense detail by Intertek Moody, which is one of the most experienced registered MSC certifiers operating within the global MSC program,” the statement read. “Intertek Moody appointed an international expert team to conduct the assessment and Intertek Moody’s subsequent governance oversight committee recommended that the Russian Sea of Okhotsk Pollock fishery be certified in accordance with the MSC standard.”
