The Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA) has transferred the clientship and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificate for Alaska salmon to the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF), the groups announced Friday.
The MSC certificate for the Alaska salmon fishery remains unchanged, said AFDF.
The Alaska salmon fishery originally received the sustainability certification from the MSC in 2000. In April, the Alaska salmon fishery successfully completed the full 5-year re-certification under MSC. The current certificate is valid through Nov. 11, 2023.
AFDF is also the client for the MSC certification of Pacific cod and the client for the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification of Pacific cod and Alaska salmon.
PSPA and AFDF anticipate that housing both the MSC and RFM Alaska salmon certificates and client groups under AFDF will lead to efficiencies for industry to coordinate and share resources, ideas and work products.
In order to sell Alaska salmon as MSC certified, primary processors are required to be members of the MSC Alaska Salmon Client Group and pay a share of the cost of the fishery certification in proportion with the pounds of salmon purchased.
In 2015, the Alaska Salmon Processors Association (ASPA) transferred the MSC sustainability certificate for Alaska salmon from ASPA to PSPA.
