Juneau, Alaska. May 18, 2012
Dear Editor,
On behalf of 27 Alaska salmon processing companies representing approximately 80% of the salmon caught in Alaska we would like to reaffirm our intent to withdraw support from MSC salmon certification. Recent press reports about the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association (PSVOA) becoming the client for MSC salmon certification have incorrectly suggested that we would rejoin the program. Those reports are incorrect.
The announcement by PSVOA and the speculative statements that followed have created some confusion in the market place. We would like to clear up any misunderstanding. We have no intention of supporting MSC certification for salmon beyond the 2012 production. While we recognize that PSVOA has the right to become the client for MSC salmon, it should not be construed that we have changed our minds about this decision. We fully support the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management certification that has been developed for the industry by ASMI and the State of Alaska. This fully accredited program responds to requests from many of our customers to provide a reasonable alternative to MSC certification.
We believe the action to withdraw from the MSC salmon scheme is in the best interest of the Alaska Salmon industry, an industry in which we have invested heavily for the future of Alaska, our fishermen, their families and our companies.
| Skip Winfree
10th & M Seafoods |
Dan Nomura
Alaska General Seafoods |
Jim Erickson
Alaska Glacier Seafood |
Larry Cotter
APICDA (Bering Pacific)
|
| Sandro Lane
Alaska Protein Recovery
|
Randy Crawford
Boreal Fisheries, Inc. |
Larry Elliott
E.C. Phillips & Sons |
Tab Goto
E&E Foods
|
| Greg Favretto
Favco, Inc. |
Roger Stiles
Great Pacific Seafood |
George Adams
Great Ruby Fish Company
|
Dennis Guhlke
Icicle Seafoods
|
| Hank Baumgart
Icy Strait Seafood |
Vincent Goddard
Inlet Fish Producers, Inc.
|
Rhonda Hubbard
J & R Fisheries
|
Jack Schultheis
Kwik’PaK Fisheries |
| Izetta Chambers
Naknek Family Fisheries |
Tomonobu Miki
North Pacific Seafoods
|
Mark Palmer
Ocean Beauty Seafoods
|
John Whiddon
Pacific Seafood Kodiak
|
| Barry Collier
Peter Pan Seafoods
|
Tom McLaughlin
Seafood Producers Coop
|
Paul Dale
Snug Harbor Seafoods |
Mark Tupper
Triad Fisheries |
| Joe Bundrant
Trident Seafoods |
Roland Briggs
Ugashik Wild Salmon Co. |
Doug Karlberg
Yukon Gold |