AFDF is new client for salmon certification

Photo by Margaret Bauman/The Cordova Times

Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation has assumed the clientship and Marine Stewardship Council certificate for Alaska salmon. The certification from the Pacific Seafood Processors Association in Seattle concludes a cooperative transfer process.

The Alaska salmon fishery originally received the sustainability certification from MSC in 2000. On April 23, the Alaska salmon fishery successfully completed the required full five-year re-certification. The current certificate, valid through Nov. 11, 2023, allows harvesters and processors in the Alaska seafood industry to sell their salmon as MSC certified.

AFDF, based in Wrangell, is also the client for the MSC certification of Pacific cod and the client for the Responsible Fisheries Management certification of Pacific cod and Alaska salmon.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, based in Juneau, chose a Responsible Fisheries Management model based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Code and Guidelines because it meets the highest benchmarks for credible certification.

Many seafood buyers, including restaurants, wholesalers and food service firms, both domestic and overseas, require recognized certification of seafood to assure that what they are purchasing comes from sustainable fisheries. Having an MSC or RFM certification is therefore an asset for all purveyors of wild Alaska seafood.

AFDF officials said housing both the MSC and RFM Alaska salmon certificates and client groups under AFDF will lead to efficiencies for the industry to coordinate and share resources, ideas and work products.

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Primary processors, who purchase Alaska salmon directly from harvesters, are required to be members of the MSC Alaska Salmon Client Group and pay an equitable share of the cost of certification in order to sell their Alaska salmon as MSC certified. 

The 37 members of the current client group includes Copper River Seafoods, 60° North Seafoods, Alaska Wild Seafoods LLC, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Silver Bay Seafoods and Trident Seafoods.

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