Two pink and chum salmon fisheries operated by J.S.C. Gidrostroy on Iturup Island, part of the Russian Kuril Islands, are entering assessment for certification to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
The fisheries are managed by the Russian government and by J.S.C. Gidrostroy, a private company that owns and operates the fishing, processing and shipment operations for much of the salmon at Iturup Island. A subsidiary of the company, Polar Bear Seafoods, located in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., will also be included in the assessment.
During the fishing season from mid-July to the beginning of November each year, salmon are caught from four Iturup Island river systems and adjacent offshore coastal areas using stationary traps. Hatcheries exist in two of the river systems. After harvesting, both pink and chum salmon are processed at the island’s two J.S.C. Gidrostroy-owned plants before being sold mostly into Russian, European, Asian and North American markets.
The assessment process for the salmon fisheries, which is being conducted by independent certifying body Scientific Certification Systems, is estimated to take 14-18 months and begins this month. In accordance with the MSC standard, the assessment will cover the status of the salmon stocks, the impact that the two fisheries have on the marine environment and the management systems overseeing the fisheries.
