U.S. Senator Mark Begich has written to the president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Doug McMillon, asking the company to reconsider its decision to stop buying Alaska salmon products that are not certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Alaska's certification expired last autumn - the state Department of Fish and Game had sponsored the industry's certification twice, but declined to do so again amid concerns with the programme's cost. Sen. Begich urged the Mr McMillon to consider the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) programme, Alaska’s state certification programme.
Sen. Begich invited Mr McMillon to visit Alaska to meet firsthand with fishermen, processors, biologists, fisheries managers, and other Alaskans dedicated to seafood sustainability. According to Sen. Begich, Alaska is the gold standard for sustainable fisheries management and Walmart should not rely on a European organisation to advise them about Alaska fish.
Sen. Begich writes in the letter:
“As chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard I held a hearing in September on seafood certification programs. At that hearing, I was pleased by statements regarding Alaska salmon from Walmart’s Senior Director of Sustainability, Mr. Jeffery Rice. I asked him directly then whether the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) program was acceptable to meet Walmart requirements. I am still keenly interested in the answer to that question, as are producers of quality Alaska seafood.
“Alaska’s commitment to seafood sustainability is second to none. Our management is science based, well documented, regulated by a transparent process, and has a lengthy record that attests to its success. I believe it is important for Walmart to sell U.S. sourced, sustainable seafood regardless of whether suppliers choose to pay for a third party label.”
