January 4, 2012
Pacific Cod: AFDF is preparing for the 2nd Annual Surveillance Audit (ASA)
The audit will be conducted by Intertek Moody Marine. The site visit will occur in May or June and will be conducted jointly with Alaska pollock and Flatfish to save the clients and industry money. We will likely spend a couple of days with the staff of Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle while they give stock status and fishery updates. AFDF will have a report including a 2011 season summary for P cod, and the progress that we have made on the remaining conditions which include seabird bycatch, lost gear reporting, and the fishery’s effect on reproductive capacity (fecundity) through time. We look for a smooth process for the 2nd ASA, and will likely close out at least 2 more conditions (Reproductive capacity and seabird bycatch).
September 8, 2010
Pacific Cod: AFDF is Client for the Certification of Sustainability
After receiving a grant to investigate the potential benefits of certification of sustainability for the Pacific cod fishery in late 2004, the Board of Directors of AFDF decided that the foundation should wait and watch the MSC process taking place with Alaska pollock before proceeding with the project. By late 2005, industry was looking more favorably on the certification process and our Board decided that it was a good time to proceed. AFDF formed the P cod working group in early 2006 to guide the process of the fishery assessment for the Marine Stewardship Council’s certification of sustainability for the entire Pacific cod fishery including all 4 gear types in both the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands management areas. AFDF contracted a pre-assessment with Moody Marine Ltd., one of 5 accredited independent certifiers available. After receiving a positive indication from the pre-assessment in August 2006 to proceed to full assessment with all sectors of the Pacific cod fishery, AFDF retained Moody Marine for the full assessment of all 8 sectors (4 gear types X 2 management areas). As the client, the foundation’s intent was to have all legally caught cod in Alaska certified as sustainable. The full assessment was initiated in October 2007 after a cost-sharing agreement (click here to view) was worked out with the P cod working group. Certification was achieved on January 27, 2010 in time for the “A” season Pacific cod to be marketed as “Sustainable” and bear the eco-label.
- For more AFDF Sustainability news, click here.
- For a list of P cod working group participating companies and organizations, click here.
- For the latest updates, status and current developments on the Pacific cod certification, click here and here.
- For scanned images of the MSC certificates of sustainability, click here for BSAI and here for GoA.
- For Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s Sustainability information and program, click here.
