MSC granted sustainability certification to the Fraser River commercial sockeye fishery last week despite last year’s sockeye population collapse and an ongoing federal judicial inquiry into management of the fishery
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“Given recent events it is both misleading and irresponsible to certify the Fraser fishery as sustainable,” said Greg Knox with SkeenaWild Conservation Trust
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“We will be launching a new awareness campaign for European consumers advising that the certified salmon they are buying could come from BC’s endangered Fraser River sockeye population
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”
According to a statement from the conservation groups, scientists have said the Fraser River sockeye fishery does not meet the criteria of a sustainable fishery because it continues to catch endangered salmon and strategies to recover dwindling fish populations are not being implemented
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“There is no way these kinds of endangered salmon should be considered a sustainable choice until the fisheries management system is improved and endangered stocks given a chance to recover,” said Vicky Husband, senior advisor with Watershed Watch Salmon Society
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“Obviously we have serious concerns with the objectivity of MSC’s certification process,” said Craig Orr, executive director of Watershed Watch Salmon Society
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“For fisheries certification to be effective, consumers must be able to trust the certifier’s evaluation process
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In this case, it appears the MSC is simply using a rubber stamp
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Scientists at Watershed Watch Salmon Society, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust and the David Suzuki Foundation launched a formal objection to the proposed certification last year, which was rejected in July by the MSC
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