The US Gulf of Alaska pollock fishery was certified as sustainable by the MSC in April 2005. Together with the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands pollock fishery they constitute the world’s largest whitefish fishery.

Pollock is a mild whitefish similar to cod, and is one of the most popular fish species in the world. It is found in a wide variety of fish dishes including fish sticks, oceans pies, fish burgers and surimi (imitation crab). MSC-labelled fish products featuring pollock are widely available around the world.

The MSC “seal of approval” has given both Alaska fisheries a competitive edge in European markets where environmental credibility can play a decisive role in purchasing decisions. MSC-labelled pollock dishes are widely available in Europe, Japan, USA and Canada.

For further information, please visit the At-sea Processors Association website.

The fishery: Unit of certification

The certified Gulf of Alaska pollock fishery is defined as:

Surveillance 4: Completed 3rd July 2009

Surveillance report No.4 - 3rd July 2009

Surveillance 3: Completed

Surveillance report No.3 - 12th November 2008

Announcement: Annual surveillance audit - 28 February 2008

Surveillance 2: Completed 4 December 2007

Surveillance report No.2 - 4 December 2007

Announcement: Annual surveillance audit - 5 March 2007

Advisory: Annual surveillance audit timeframe extension - 27 November 2006

Surveillance 1: Completed 29 June 2006

Surveillance report No.1 - 29 June 2006

Announcement: Confirmed surveillance team - 10 August 2005

Announcement: Annual surveillance audit and proposed surveillance team - 28 June 2005

Advisory: Moody Marine appointed certification body for surveillance processes - 26 May 2005 

Initial assessment: Certified April 2005

Stage 7: Objections procedure/public certification report and certificate issue

Public certification report - 16 May 2005

Action plan for meeting the conditions for continued certification - 1 March 2005

Objections procedure

Report of the MSC objections panel - 11 April 2005

Further documentation relating to the 2004/05 Alaska pollock objections procedure can be acquired by contacting the MSC at standards@msc.org

Stage 6: Final report and determination

Final report and determination - 5 July 2004

Stakeholder Notification: Final report and determination - 14 June 2004

Stage 5: Public review of the draft assessment report

Public comment draft report - 23 November 2003

Stakeholder Notification: Public comment draft report released - 23 November 2003

Stage 4: Client and peer review

Stakeholder Notification: Peer reviewers proposed - 23 April 2003

Stage 3: Information gathering, stakeholder meetings and scoring

Stage 2: Building the assessment tree

Draft assessment tree - 5 March 2002

Stakeholder Notification: Draft assessment tree released for comment - 5 March 2002

Stage 1: Fishery announcement and assessment team formation

Stakeholder Notification: Assessment team announced - 1 July 2001

Stakeholder Notification: Fishery enters full assessment - 4 January 2001

Surveillance audits: First certification period 2010-2015

Surveillance 2: Commenced April 2012

Stakeholder Notification: Surveillance visit scheduled - 24 April 2012

Surveillance 1: Completed July 2011

Variation response - Allow ongoing assessment using FAM v.1 - 18 November 2011

Variation request - Allow ongoing assessment using FAM v.1 - 18 November 2011

Surveillance report No.1 - 14th July 2011

Stakeholder Notification: Surveillance announcement  - 13th April 2011

Reassessment: Certified September 2010

Variation response: Inseparable or Practically Inseparable (IPI) catch - 3rd March 2011

Variation request: Inseparable or Practically Inseparable (IPI) catch - 3rd March 2011

Certificates: Compliance with the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable fishing

Certificate of compliance MML-FC-07 - Valid 30th September 2010 to 29th September 2015

Stage 7: Objection procedure/public certification report and certificate issue

No objections received

Client Memorandum of Agreement (APA & BUC) - 12th November 2010

Client Memorandum of Agreement (APA & AFDF) - 12th November 2010

Extension of scope - 12th November 2010

Stakeholder Notification: Issuance of public certification report - 30th September 2010

Public certification report - 28th September 2010

Stage 6: Final report and determination

Final report and determination - 24th August 2010

Stakeholder Notification: Announcement of final report and determination - 24th August 2010

Stage 5: Public review of the draft assessment report

Public comment draft report - 8 June 2010

Stakeholder Notification: Public comment draft report released

- 8 June 2010

Stakeholder Notification: Extension to certificate - 23 April 2010

Stage 4: Client and peer review

Stakeholder Notification: Peer reviewers proposed - 3rd November 2009

Stage 3: Information gathering, stakeholder meetings and scoring

Stakeholder Notification: Site visit scheduled - 30th March 2009

Stage 2: Building the Assessment Tree

Stakeholder Notification: Announcement of the intention to use the default assessment tree - 3rd March 2009

Stage 1: Fishery announcement and assessment team formation

Stakeholder Notification: Assessment team nominations - 4th February 2009

Stakeholder Notification: Fishery re-enters full assessment - 29th January 2009

Assessment timeline - 29th January 2009

At-sea Processors Association (APA)

Director of Public Affairs
1225 I Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC  20005
USA
Tel.+1 (202) 712 9119
Fax.+1 (202) 789 1116

Contact: Mr Jim Gilmore
jgilmore@atsea.org

Certification Bodies

Intertek Moody Marine 
Moody International Certification

815-99 Wyse Road
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia 
B3A 4S5
Canada

Contact: Dr Rob Blyth - Skyrme
Tel: +1 808 351 0050
Email: rob@ichthysmarine.com

Contact: Paul Knapman
p.knapman@moodyint.com
Tel: +1 902 422 4511

www.moodyint.com

Certified as sustainable on 27 April 2005.
Re-Certified on 30th September 2010.

Summary

Species:  Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)
Location: Gulf of Alaska
Fishing methods: Trawl
Vessels:  Trawl catcher vessels that deliver their catch onshore for processing.
Number of fisheries: 1

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Fishery Fact Sheet

Download the Alaska pollock fisheries fact sheet for A4 paper
Download the Alaska pollock fisheries fact sheet for US letter paper

More about pollock

Walleye or Alaska pollock are schooling, midwater to bottom-dwelling fish. Pollock live anywhere between shallow, nearshore waters to 1000 metres, but most are found between depths of 100-300 metres. Pollock begin to recruit to the Gulf of Alaska fishery aged 2 and many survive 10 years or more. Seasonal migrations occur from overwintering areas along the outer shelf to shallow waters (90-140 metres) for spawning.

More about the fishing methods

Fishing for Pollock occurs exclusively by trawling. The Gulf of Alaska fleet uses mainly pelagic trawling, with about 90% of the catch taken by mid-water trawls.

Fishery tonnage

49,900 metric tonnes

Commercial market

The primary markets for Alaska pollock products are Japan, the US and Europe. Japan is the principal market for surimi (minced fish) and roe products. The US and Europe are the main markets for fillet-type products. Fillets are used for fish and chips and fish fingers; surimi  is used for imitation crab and similar products.