Meet the fishers

Meet the US North Pacific sablefish fishers

Certified as sustainable to the MSC standard since May 2006, fishers in the North Pacific sablefish fishery abide by an annual individual fishing quota to ensure the fishery’s sustainability. The vessels in this fishery use bottom hook and line gear (longline) to capture the sablefish from Alaskan waters.

“The fishermen from Alaska wanted to acquire MSC certification as they thought it would be of great help in marketing sablefish in North America. Currently 95 percent of the sablefish is exported to Asia and our hope is that we can put 7 to 10 percent of the production into North American consumption to help stabilize our prices. The MSC label is considered the gold standard of green endorsements and that’s what our members wanted for this great product."

Bob Alverson
Executive Director, Fishing Vessel Owners Association (FVOA)

The primary market for these fish is Japan, but the US market has grown in recent years. Also known as black cod, sablefish has gained special popularity in upscale restaurants for its buttery taste and fine texture. For this reason it is also sometimes referred to as butterfish. 

For more information, visit the Fishing Vessel Owners Association website.