Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[mykisscrazy]

Fraser sockeye to be labelled sustainable despite falling stocks

Mark Hume
Vancouver, B.C. — Globe and Mail update
Published on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 12:41PM EST
Last updated on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 1:19PM EST

British Columbia's sockeye fishery – including the troubled Fraser River
run which is currently the focus of a judicial inquiry – is about to get
international certification as a sustainable fishery.

In a decision posted Wednesday the British-based Marine Stewardship
Council states that after extensive review it has determined “that the
British Columbia sockeye salmon fishery should be certified in accordance
with the MSC standard.”

The decision, however, is classified as a “determination”, and final
certification won't be granted until after a 15-day period, during which
objections can be registered with the MSC's office in London.

The MSC states that any objections should be sent by email (to:
objections@msc.org).

And judging by early responses, the MSC will likely be getting some
objections.

In an advisory issued shortly after the MSC determination was posted on
the web, four B.C. organizations announced they “are objecting strongly to
the announcement today of eco-certification of BC's sockeye fisheries.”

The groups opposed to MSC certification are Watershed Watch Salmon
Society, David Suzuki Foundation, Skeena Wild Conservation Trust and The
Headwaters Initiative.

The MSC sets the gold standard for environmental certification and
eco-labelling, and it has been examining the B.C. sockeye fishery for the
past nine years.

An MSC label is much sought after by producers in today's environmentally
conscious market.

While some B.C. rivers had strong runs of sockeye salmon last year, a
crisis emerged on the Fraser last fall when only about 1 million fish
returned, instead of the 10.6 million expected. That dramatic shortfall
led to native, sport and commercial fishery closures and convinced Prime
Minister Stephen Harper to order a judicial inquiry. That inquiry is
currently being organized and expected to begin after the Olympics end.

[troutbreath]

Would be interesting to find out who tried to get the MSC's sustainable rating. I'm guessing Barry Penner.

[Sam Salmon]

Another handy angle to greenwash Alaskan and Siberian Salmon.

[troutbreath]

http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/index.html?releasePID=7_ut7ND3HvAwl9z_7V8ZhasZ0HDXe6LW

some info from last nights news

[Terry D]

Maybe our salmon are sustaining some other species in the Pacific?

[hammer]

This fishery would only be "sustainable" if the run was much greater then what it was last year. It is only sustainable when it is protected, valued by government, managed with care, healthy, and monitored with accurate, well-funded data. 

At this point, I'm not sure we have much of any of this.

Hammer