B.C. Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fishery Certified by MSC

The Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fishery in British Columbia (BC) has earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification having been independently assessed by an accredited certifier and found to meet the MSC standard for sustainably managed fisheries.

The Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery was assessed against the Marine Stewardship Council’s robust, environmental standard for the certification of wild capture fisheries. The Fraser River fishery joins three other B.C. sockeye salmon fisheries, the Skeena River, Nass River and Barkley Sound, that recently received MSC certification.

The fishery is managed by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Also involved with the process is the Fraser River Panel, a group comprised of government, First Nations, and recreational and commercial interests from both the United States and Canada.

The Pacific Salmon Commission, a body independent of government, provides scientific advice to the Fraser River Panel and to DFO regarding run size, stock identification, timing of returns and migration conditions.

The Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery operates within British Columbia and Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone waters. Salmon are harvested by drift and setnet gillnets, purse seine, beach seine and trolling.

Fraser River sockeye salmon are sold fresh in North America, frozen in Japan and Europe and canned primarily in the UK.

source: MSC