The nation’s largest fishery and the world’s second-largest-volume fishery, Alaska pollock, was certified for the fifth time by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) yesterday. Alaska pollock, caught primarily in the eastern Bering Sea, was first certified in 2005 and has now been recertified until 2031, following a comprehensive, independent assessment.
“We are proud that the Alaska pollock fishery continues to meet the rigorous, science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council,” Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which holds the MSC certificate for the Alaska pollock fishery, said in a statement released yesterday. “This recertification reflects decades of responsible management, strong science, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement across the fleet.
“Credible third-party certification programs can provide seafood buyers and consumers with added confidence that their sourcing decisions are backed by credible, transparent standards,” Tinning added. “That accountability is central to maintaining trust in global seafood markets.”
As the largest MSC-certified fishery globally, Alaska pollock plays a critical role in supporting coastal communities, providing a stable source of wild-caught protein, and contributing to the US seafood economy.
At-sea Processors Association (APA) is a trade association representing five member companies that own and operate 15 US-flag catcher/processor vessels. This single fishery accounts for more than one-third of all US fishery landings each year, producing more than 3 billion seafood meals annually.
Through rigorous management at the federal, state, and industry levels, the fishery is widely recognized globally as a gold standard for sustainable fishery management, providing a model for securing healthy fisheries and marine ecosystems for generations to come.
“Sustainable fisheries are essential to the long-term health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them,” Tinning said. “We remain committed to advancing responsible practices and ensuring Alaska pollock continues to set the standard for sustainable fisheries worldwide.”
Alaska Fish News note:
The MSC’s third Surveillance Report states: “Thirty days prior to the audit site visit, all stakeholders were informed of the visit and given the opportunity to provide information to the auditors in advance of, or during, the site visit. An announcement of the surveillance audit was emailed and posted on the MSC website. The assessment team did not receive any stakeholder comments or requests for meetings during the 3rd surveillance audit of the BSAI and GOA pollock fishery.”
[The report can be downloaded here 2024 3rd Surveillance Report- BSAIGOA pollock_MASTERAP FINAL.pdf]
Table 17 — Stakeholders contacted for the BSAI & GOA pollock fishery
| Yukon Salmon Fisheries Association |
| Kawerak |
| WWF-US |
| WWF-RU |
| Food and Water Watch |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium |
| Oceana |
| Ruby Advisory Committee of ADFG |
| Western Interior Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council |
| Alaska Natives |
| IPHC |
| Greenpeace |
| Intrafish |
| Undercurrent News |
| Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation |
| Marine Stewardship Council |
| At-Sea Processors Association |
| North Pacific Fisheries Management Council |
| Alaska Fisheries Science Center |
