New legislation is being implemented by Alaskan Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell with the aim of better distinguishing pollock harvested in Alaskan waters from Russian pollock.

Senator Lisa Murkowski says the labelling move is necessary because the Alaskan Pollock fishery is far more sustainable and produces higher quality products

Senator Lisa Murkowski says the labelling move is necessary because the Alaskan Pollock fishery is far more sustainable and produces higher quality products

The bipartisan legislation will amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to change the market name of ‘Alaska pollock’ to ‘pollock’. This comes after 113 million pounds of Russian pollock were passed off as Alaskan pollock in US stores in 2012.

“Alaska is known world-wide for our top quality seafood. When consumers seek out the words, ‘Alaska, wild-caught’ at the grocery store, they shouldn’t be deceived by what they are actually getting,” said Senator Murkowski. “The change in nomenclature is necessary to avoid ongoing misrepresentation of the origin of pollock that is purchased and consumed in the US.”

Senators Cantwell and Murkowski say the labelling move is necessary because the Alaskan pollock fishery is far more sustainable and produces higher quality products compared to international pollock fisheries.

“Today, all pollock can be labelled as Alaskan – no matter where it’s caught. The Alaskan pollock fishery is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, and consumers have a right to know if the pollock they see in the grocery store, or on a menu, is real, sustainable Alaskan pollock caught by American fishermen,” added Senator Cantwell.

This bill also makes a similar change to golden king crab, which can only be legally labelled as brown king crab, even though it is known as golden king crab today.

The Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) supports these efforts.

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