WASHINGTON — September 19, 2013 — The following was released by the office of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski:
Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced legislation to combat the influence of outside certification parties on Alaska’s sustainable seafood industry. Her Responsible Seafood Certification and Labeling Act would prohibit any federal agencies from using third party non-governmental certification schemes when considering or labeling any domestic catch as ‘sustainable.’
Recently, Senator Murkowski was able to encourage the National Park Service to reverse course when its guidelines referenced the London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in defining whether wild Alaska salmon is sustainable. MSC’s certification, recently referred to as a “high-priced eco-endorsement” in the Alaska press, no longer judges the quality of wild Alaska salmon after the industry discontinued their contractual agreement with them. Murkowski also asked the Department of Health and Human Service and General Service Administration to review this flawed policy.
“It is bad federal policy to allow third party certifiers, including foreign Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), to decide what seafood is allowed to be sold in National Parks, or procured by federal agencies,” said Murkowski. “Not too long ago, wild Alaska salmon served as the flagship species for MSC. Now MSC is disparaging the “sustainability” of Alaska salmon. MSC and NGOs like them have political agendas, lack transparency, and use their certification schemes to inappropriately influence federal and state fisheries management.”
Read the full press release at Senator Murkowski's website