Sustainability notes
This is an overview of how the Alaska salmon fishery scored in assessment against the MSC standard. For the certifiers evaluation please download the full public certification report with detailed information on the performance of this fishery against the criteria of the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing.
The fishery scored as follows in assessment against the MSC standard for sustainable fishing. This assessment was for five species of salmon, divided into 16 units of certification based on regulatory area and gear type. The 16 units were scored separately. The highest possible score for each principle is 100 and a fishery must score at least 80 against each principle to get certified:
|
Unit of Certification |
Principle 1: Sustainability of Exploited Stock |
Principle 2: Maintenance of Ecosystem |
Principle 3: Effective Management System |
|
SE Drift Net |
80.89 |
80.87 |
92.73 |
|
SE Purse Seine |
80.89 |
80.87 |
92.73 |
|
SE Troll |
85.23 |
80.87 |
92.73 |
|
Yakutat |
85.44 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Prince William Sound |
80.21 |
80.25 |
92.73 |
|
Copper River/Bering |
80.03 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Lower Cook Inlet |
86.63 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Upper Cook Inlet |
83.34 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Bristol Bay |
90.44 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Yukon |
91.75 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Kuswokwim |
82.1 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Kotzebue |
83.73 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Norton Sound |
80.56 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Kodiak |
82.48 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Chignik |
87.55 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
|
Peninsula |
80.13 |
82.12 |
92.73 |
Sustainability strengths
Some of the points on which the fishery scored over 90 are outlined below.
Principle 1: the state of the fish stock
- The fisheries were grouped into 16 certification units based on species, regulatory area and gear type such that each unit of certification contained a number of species as well as a large number of fisheries per species. To pass any performance indicator all fisheries and all species in a certification unit had to comply with the performance indicator. The different stocks, fishing methods employed and areas of capture were well understood for each to pass the assessment.
Principle 2: the impact of the fishery on the marine environment
- Alaska salmon fisheries typically have low by-catch rates on non-salmonids such as marine mammals, birds, and marine fishes. These are regularly monitored by management and regulatory bodies (ADFG, NOAA etc).
Principle 3: the fishery management systems
- Alaska’s fishery management system is among the most comprehensive and intensive of any fishery in the world. Management objectives are clearly defined and there is annual assessment or update of the status of stocks for each major target stock unit in the fishery.
Challenges
In order to ensure its continuing sustainable operation this fishery made a commitment to improving its performance where it scored between 60-80. Some of the actions the fishery has committed to are:
- Recovery of depleted stocks: Action Plans have been developed for each Stock of Concern but the Action Plans did not identify a time frame for recovery if actions are implemented. The CB set the condition that Action Plans should identify fishery specific objectives for recovery and provide an anticipated timeframe for meeting the objectives.
