WWF withdraws objection to MSC certification of Russian pollock fishery

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has withdrawn its objection to the certification of the Russian Sea of Okhotsk pollock fishery under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-label program, clearing the way, in part, for a final certification of the fishery, the MSC said Monday.

Standing in the way of certification, however, is the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which decided last month to have its objection to the fishery’s certification sent to an independent adjudicator.

Scheduling the hearing, however, has been difficult, and independent adjudicator Mike Lodge proposed Monday in an update on the MSC website that the hearing be scheduled for May 31 and into June 1, further delaying a final decision on the certification of the fishery.

Certification