The Iturup pink salmon and chum salmon fishery, the first Russian fishery to be MSC certified, has started the re-assessment process.
The fishery was first certified in 2009 and is located in the Russian Far East on the north side of Iturup Island in the Kuril Islands.
The client for the fishery is J.S.C. Gidrostroy and the method of catch is fish traps. The fishing season generally takes place June through to October, and the annual catch in 2012 for pink salmon was 22,007 metric tonnes and 3,469 metric tonnes for chum salmon. The main commercial markets for the fishery are China, Russia, United States, and Europe.
Kerry Coughlin, MSC regional director for the Americas and Russian Far East, says: “The first Russian fishery to seek a second MSC certification is a milestone and an important indicator of the value the MSC program brings to fisheries in the Russian Far East and around the globe. MSC certified salmon is widely sought after in world markets and we are pleased this fishery has made the decision to enter into the re-assessment process.”
