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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CALIFORNIA SALMON FISHERY SEEKS ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION California Troll-Caught Chinook 'King' Salmon Fishery Begins MSC Evaluation SEATTLE, WA, April 20, 2004 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is pleased to announce that the California troll-caught King salmon fishery has begun a full assessment under the MSC’s certification and eco-labeling program for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. The California Salmon Council has contracted with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in Emeryville, California which will lead the scientific review of the fishery against the MSC’s strict environmental standard. The California Salmon Council is seeking MSC certification for the fishery on behalf of the state’s commercial fishermen. The Council successfully competed for a grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture Specialty Crops Grant Program which is making the assessment possible. California is the leading producer of troll-caught king salmon along the Pacific US west coast. Fishing is by barbless hook and line using artificial lures and bait which are highly selective in catching king salmon. Last year, the commercial fishery produced 6.4 million pounds of king Salmon, up 28% from the 5 million pounds caught in 2002. Its primary markets have been the US west coast, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. The Salmon Council expects certification to result in expanded markets for California king salmon. “We believe certification will allow us to expand our domestic and international markets to include those who are today asking for products certified as sustainable and well-managed under the MSC program,” said David Goldenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the California Salmon Council. “The project should have an economic payoff as fishermen, receivers and suppliers all have a role in assuring the consuming public that California salmon are managed and harvested in a sustainable and responsible manner.” An independent evaluation will be conducted by a team of experts which will examine the status of the fish stock, the effect fishing has on the marine environment and the effectiveness of the fishery management system. If the fishery is certified and traceability is established, seafood products are eligible to use the distinctive blue and white MSC eco-label on packaging which gives consumers a quick and easy way to identify the best environmental choices in seafood – those which have not been overfished or harvested in ways which harm the ocean. Purchasing certified seafood bearing the MSC eco-label empowers consumers to reward responsibly managed fisheries and voice support for healthier oceans and stable fishing communities. Nine fisheries have been certified under the international, non-profit MSC program including the first North American fishery certified, Alaska salmon. Fourteen are now in full-assessment and more than 40 fisheries are at various stages of the process. There are nearly 200 labeled products available in 17 countries. Whole Foods Market became the first North American retailer to have MSC labeled products available in stores and Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which operates restaurants in National Parks, is the first food service operation in North America to use the MSC logo to identify certified seafood on menus. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) The MSC was founded in 1997 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Unilever as a way to reward responsibly managed fisheries around the world. Today, the organization is independent of its founders and operates offices in London, Seattle and Sydney, Australia. The MSC is an accreditation body that accredits independent certification bodies to assess applicant fisheries to determine whether they meet the MSC’s Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing. Through its certification and eco-labeling program, the MSC uses market-based incentives to encourage responsibly managed fisheries around the world. For more information visit www.msc.org California Salmon Council The California Salmon Council was formed in 1989 to represent the marketing interests of the state's commercial salmon fishermen. The Council's goal is to create consumer awareness and marketplace demand for California King Salmon. For more information visit www.calkingsalmon.org
CONTACT: Karen Tarica (206) 691-0188 or e-mail: Karen.Tarica@msc.org |
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