Help stop Alaska’s unsustainable fishing practices
Dumping nets full of thousands of crushed salmon straight into the vessel hold is the most unselective way to fish. And, fishing another country's salmon runs, which they have closed to protect, is about as far from sustainable as you can get. Yet, this is exactly how Southeast Alaska conducts fisheries that intercept salmon migrating to B.C., Washington, and Oregon.
Last winter, Alaska sent its trollers to fish outside waters where 90% of the chinook caught are not from Alaska. This summer, Canada closed its commercial fisheries to protect a faltering sockeye run coming in below forecast, but Alaska is still fishing it.
While Canada’s largest sustainable seafood label, Ocean Wise stopped recommending Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council still calls them ‘sustainable.’ And many stores continue selling salmon from Southeast Alaska with a ‘sustainable' label.
You can help — by reconsidering your purchase of any salmon from southeast Alaska and sending a letter to the Marine Stewardship Council and leading grocers.