If the Alaskan interception of Canadian and southern US salmon and steelhead is permitted by international Treaty and an eco-certification, what can be done?
Pressure can be put on the Canadian federal and provincial governments and southern US states to take a stronger position in treaty negotiations. Also, Alaska is vulnerable to consumer awareness of sustainability issues in national and international seafood markets. Alaska’s interception fisheries, while so injurious to Canada and the southern US, are a tiny proportion (under 3% of total value) of Alaska’s annual catch of salmon. If consumer awareness were to be raised in key seafood markets about the impact of Alaskan interception fisheries, Alaskan government and business leaders, managers, and fishers might be persuaded it would just be good business to organize their fisheries to harvest their own fish in a manner that avoids Canadian and southern US salmon and steelhead.