SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [Seafoodnews.com] — November 27, 2013 — In a letter to Alaskan Sen. Lisa Murkowski the General Service Administration confirmed it has removed third-party seafood sustainability references in its Concession Sustainability Guidelines saying US managed fisheries do not require third-party sustainability certification.
The November 22 letter is a response to months of backlash after the GSA came a under fire from Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski and the Alaska salmon industry after guidelines were adopted by the National Park Service to require seafood options that were Best Choices" or "Good Alternatives" on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list; certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council or identified by an equivalent program that has been approved by the NPS.
In September, the GSA's Assistant Commissioner Darren Blue testified in front of a federal Senate Committee that the GSA would change the language surrounding the use of MSC and other third-party certification bodies. (See September 24, 2013 Seafood.com News Article: Murkowski hails GSA reversal on third-party seafood sustainability certification requirements)
The GSA's revised policy can be read here.
Following is the complete letter sent by the GSA to Murkowski's office, the original can be read here:
November 22, 2013
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Murkowski:
Thank you for your letter dated July 12, 2013, raising concerns about the Health and Sustainable Good Guidelines (Guidelines) developed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Hu
man Services (HHS). As I testified before the U.S. Senate Committee Commerce, Science, and Technology's Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, on September 24, 2013, I agree with the concerns outlines in your letter.
GSA's believes that American managed fisheries do not require third-party certification to demonstrate responsible and sustainable practices. GSA and HHS designed the Guidelines to make healthy choices more accessible and appealing. We intended the Guideline's citation of third-party certification organizations to serve as helpful examples for potential bidders, not as eliminating factors. Our goal was to broaden choices, not to restrict options.
As soon as GSA became aware of your concerns, we worked with HHS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to revise the Guidelines. The new Guidelines (copy enclosed) continue to reflect the best of Federal fisheries management policy and practices, but they omit any reference to third-party certification systems.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Lisa Austin, Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, at (202) 501-0563.
Sincerely,
Darren J. Blue
Assistant Commissioner
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.