Conservation program Ocean Wise has rescinded its recommendation for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified salmon fisheries from Southeast Alaska because of sustainability concerns.
Ocean Wise said a formal objection launched by three British Columbia-based conservation organizations (Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Watershed Watch, and Skeena Wild) led Ocean Wise to review the fisheries starting in May.
According to the complaints, the fishery is intercepting and harvesting salmon stocks
inseparable, or practically inseparable, from B.C., Washington, and Oregon stocks
that are destined for rivers in B.C. and contribute to the future survival of Canadian salmon runs.
Complainants allege that some of the fisheries incidentally harvest bycatch including sockeye salmon, most of which originate from non-Alaskan rivers and which are at low abundance levels.
Additionally, they said Southeast Alaska fisheries catch and retain Chinook
salmon that are needed to feed endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. So they directly impact prey availability that supports this at-risk population. Ocean Wise noted that in 2022 a court ruling stated that the fishery was in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for hindering the recovery of endangered Southern Resident killer whales and threatened Chinook salmon.
Finally, Ocean Wise said that the evidence suggests this Alaska fishery
takes a significant proportion of the catch, or total run, for some stocks that are
outside biologically based limits and that lack of appropriate record-keeping for
bycatch in the Southeast fishery has led to likely underestimations of mortality for
sensitive stocks.
The organization said formal objections lodged against the MSC-certified Southeast Alaska Fishery and ongoing lawsuits break Ocean Wise’s decision rules and are therefore Not Recommended.
