King/Snow Crab Fisheries Certified to FAO Standard

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) submitted the application.

Ray Riutta, Executive Director of ASMI stated: We are pleased that we can offer our industry and our customers a credible certification of Alaskas crab fisheries. This certification is a first as it is the only fishery management certification in the crab sector with formal and official IS0 65 accreditation. The 3rd party certification will effectively communicate to all interested parties that the Alaska crab fishery is responsibly managed for sustainable use.

Peter Marshall, CEO Global Trust Certifications added: Global Trust would like to congratulate the members of the fishery and those involved in the fishery management system that support it. The Certification Committee unanimously agreed with the Assessment Teams findings that the applicant Alaska crab fisheries are responsibly managed by effective management institutions using robust fishery management plans based on good science.

Peter Marshall continued: As part of the accredited certification the Alaska crab fishery receives a cost effective and credible certification for Responsible Fisheries Management, a communication platform to protect and maintain the provenance of the Alaska origin and a confidence that the goal posts are not going to change at the will of external parties to the fishery.

A Certification Summary Report for the fishery assessment is available at http://sustainability.alaskaseafood.org/crab-certification.

Alaska crab joins Alaskas salmon, halibut, black cod/sablefish and pollock fisheries in having been certified by the independent organization Global Trust in accordance with the FAO-Based Model for Responsible Fisheries Management. Alaskas cod fishery is currently undergoing assessment.