Press Release, No. 05-011: March 2, 2005

Contact: Andy McGregor at 465-6149, or Ken Alper at 465-6134

Public Comment Period Underway for Alaska’s Sustainable Commercial Salmon Fishery Re-assessment and Certification

(Juneau) -The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is moving forward with the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) five-year re-assessment and certification program of the Alaska commercial salmon fisheries. The assessment program will evaluate the fisheries for compliance with MSC's Standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries. This includes inquiries into the status of stocks, the effects of fishing on the ecosystem, and the management system’s effectiveness. The independent certification body contracted to assess the fishery is Scientific Certification Systems, Inc., (SCS).

SCS will be taking comments on proposed performance indicators and scoring guidelines until March 30, 2005. To provide comment to SCS or to learn more about the MSC program and re-certification process, please visit the ADF&G website at www.adfg.state.ak.us and click on Alaska’s Sustainable Salmon Fishery; MSC Re-assessment and Certification under either “Highlights” or “Fisheries” sections.

Alaska’s commercial salmon fishery was originally certified as sustainably managed by MSC in 2000. Under MSC rules, all certified fisheries must be fully re-assessed for compliance with MSC’s Standards by an independent certification body every five years.

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