In related news...
Once and Future
2013-01-25 20:10:04
... as of right now, "McDonald's Fish" is the HIGHEST trending search on Yahoo.com...
This must be due to their announcement that they have the MSC stamp of sustainable fisheries on each sandwich due to Alaska Pollock.
There are several facets of that of interest to us, but to me, it is INCREDIBLE, and HOPEFUL, that the leading search on that Yahoo search engine right now has to do with people's interest in where their seafood comes from!!!!!!
Do I dare read the follow up comments to the article?
JYDPDX
2013-01-25 20:30:22
"According to MSC chief executive Rupert Howes, the announcement stemmed from a collaborative relationship with McDonald’s. The partnership allows customers to support sustainable fishing practices that preserve fish stocks and support communities that depend on fishing, Howes said."
Incredible, yeah, the above quote is incredible.
Your yahoo data probably has much less to do with consumer watchdogs seeking out their own info on how sustainable McDs is and….
Probably has much more to do with a strategic marketing campaign by McDonalds to get the word out via media outlets on how there product is better than competitors.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/01/25/mcdonalds-to-serve-only-eco-labeled-fish/
Salty
2013-01-26 03:03:38
Unfortunately, If the Parnell Administration has its way our Alaska wild salmon will no longer be MSC certified.
From Deckboss: http://deckboss.blogspot.com
"We've noted from time to time how those MSC folks are having a hard time hanging onto Alaska salmon.
MSC is the Marine Stewardship Council, a London-based certifier of sustainable fisheries.
The MSC made quite a splash with Alaska salmon back in 2000, when the fishery first won the organization's blue eco-label.
MSC-blessed seafood is said to have an advantage in the global marketplace.
For a long while, Alaska and the MSC seemed to be happy partners.
In recent years, however, many players in the Alaska seafood industry have become disenchanted with the MSC, for a variety of reasons.
This also goes for state officials, who apparently aren't too enthused about current efforts to keep MSC certification going.
A Seattle-based fishing group, the Purse Seine Vessel Owners' Association, is seeking renewal of the MSC label on behalf of seven Alaska salmon processors led by Sitka-based Silver Bay Seafoods.
Achieving this recertification necessarily would involve a lot of work for the state, specifically the Department of Fish and Game.
But apparently the department isn't much interested in playing along.
Nor is the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, which has become something of an MSC rival in pursuing an alternative certification scheme for Alaska salmon and other seafood.
Now, here's the fun part.
It seems that two top state officials will meet tomorrow with PSVOA to discuss "concerns" about the MSC certification program. Here's a letter, co-signed by Commerce Commissioner Susan Bell and Fish and Game Commissioner Cora Campbell, seeking out the meeting.
Deckboss has seen some additional correspondence elaborating on the state's position.
"Our concerns with the MSC process have to do with governance and policy, loss of market access, and brand erosion," Bell wrote in a Jan. 3 email to Bob Kehoe, PSVOA executive director.
Interestingly, this summit on Alaska salmon won't be held in Juneau or Anchorage, but in Seattle. The two commissioners are traveling there personally.
Should be a pleasant meeting, no?"
afteryou
2013-01-26 04:15:25
There you go raining on the parade again. I was thinkin' right on this is cool and then bam! :D
Salty
2013-01-26 04:47:00
Darn it, and I went to college in the 60's when by this time most Friday's I was in an alternate universe where the music was groovy and the munchies had arrived.
It is kind of sobering when you think the Alaska Pollock trawl fishery will be MSC certified and our salmon fishery might not be.
Time to retire from this site and reality into the 60 year old alternate universe of rum.
kjwelder
2013-01-26 05:28:30
After reading this post, and The other thread on "salvaging pRomotion" I think it's time to reintroduce a hook and line caught marketing coop. While I am a thankful to be a member of Seafood Producer's Coop... I have feel that a 500 owner members should have more than 1 salesman for our product... There should be an avenue for us to answer orders like Seinerman's from above.
Trnaround
2013-01-26 17:10:14
Mickey D's has done it's research. They want to appear socially responsible to the consumer. Ironically they have supplied the world with some of the most unhealthy food and drink (at low cost however) over the years, and know it. They are big business and have a big marketing budget. If they are making this move, they believe the MSC certification will improve their bottom line. That sort of supports,unfortunately the credibility of of the MSC. The big question is does Alaska seafood, in our case wild Alaska salmon need this certification to satisfy the consumer's desires. The ASMI, in my opinion does a great job maybe that is all that is needed although it sure wouldn't do any harm to have this added certification. Big forces at work.
Once and Future
2013-01-26 17:54:07
Yes, big forces at work. McD's and MSC strike a deal that benefits them both. MSC raises its profile as its decisions are scrutinized by industry players. MSC also gets free publicity and credibility from the deal. If everyone would have walked away from MSC, they would have failed.
Today there is an article in Anchorage Daily News how the Yukon tribes are upset with McD's, MSC, and trawl fish being certified because of the Chinook bycatch. And we can suffer from that because people will have the seed of an idea in the back of their brains that Chinook should be protected, not eaten.
It is all too complicated for the average American to stay interested long enough to figure out. As they are exposed to these issues, I would bet they make their decisions in less than 60 seconds. We can't very well expect them to be as interested as we are.
If we can generate our own message, it needs to be brief, attractive, and recurring. Like tiny bubbles occasionally breaking the surface here and there.
Salty
2013-01-26 20:12:05
Wow, I open this site up in the morning, it is on my tool bar, and the ideas, stories, and thinking just keep coming. I respond not because I think I know it all, or have the answers, I am a poor troller after all, but because I have had the opportunity to be involved and learn about some of these topics.
There are a lot of different opinions on MSC certification. I have heard many of them, I also have heard people I really respect explain both sides of the issue.
I sat at a presentation by a representative of the top seafood distributor in England. He explained in detail why the MSC label has emerged from a pack of literally hundreds of so called sustainable fisheries certificates as the one fish retailers and consumers recognize and trust. I have a friend who markets their frozen at sea Alaska troll caught salmon in Europe. They feel the MSC certificate for Alaska salmon is essential to their business.
My experience with Purse Seiners groups are that they put their business interests before their politics. My experience with the past three Governor's of Alaska is that they put their political interests ahead of the interests of my fishing business. I ask myself this; how can any salmon consumer really trust that the State of Alaska, with the track record of recent administrations, basically siding with trawl, mining, and cruise ship interests over salmon and other living things, will objectively certify their own salmon sustainability?
My conclusion is that we will lose credibility and markets if we lose the MSC label.
JYDPDX
2013-01-27 14:57:17
The MSC just endorsed trawl pollack for McDonalds. How can any salmon consumer trust the MSC?
Abundance
2013-01-27 17:56:39
I don't much care for the MSC, but they are demonstrating themselves to be an important marketing tool. People use them to find out what food is sustainable, whether that information is good or not. In particular, the environmentally conscious label checkers that we market our troll caught salmon to. I don't see how dropping certification will help us out at all.
Salty
2013-01-27 19:02:10
Great question and I ask it too. I helped lead a campaign to take the trawls off the bottom in the Pollock fishery in the Bering Sea a few years ago. The purpose was to protect benthic habitat and reduce by-catch of crab and halibut in particular. It was largely symbolic as the trawlers put the "pelagic" trawls on the bottom anyway. And there is little enforcement.
But, I did learn a lot about trawling Pollock in the process. If you look at it in terms of by-catch per pound of pollock harvested then it is one of the cleanest fisheries in the world. At least according to the observer data we get. The problem is that it is so huge, usually around a million metric tons. 2,200,000,000 pounds that even miniscule rates of by-catch amount to significant numbers of salmon, halibut, herring, crab or whatever.
Actually I think the Alaskan Pollock fishery, or part of it, achieved their MSC certificate a couple of years ago and McDonalds recently decided to go with the certificate in their fish products which presently also includes Alaska Salmon.
The question I ask, is that if Alaska was doing its own sustainable certification process under the Parnell Administration do you think there is any possibility they would not certify the Alaska Pollock fishery?
JYDPDX
2013-01-27 21:52:28
I am not a scientist, trawl fishery entrant or ecologist. However as far as I know or have read, Trawling utilizes methods that destroy the seabed and pollute the water column affecting numerous oceanic species in a very negative way. The by-catch numbers are based on percentage and they look good in that context but the shear volume of by-catch is alarming and mysterious. Observer accounting for the by-catch data is not comprehensive and has been scrutinized by many for under-reporting. Its a huge money business and everything that I have heard and read about it is shady at best. The fact that MSC certifies this fishery as "sustainable" is head scratcher to me and suggests that their tag of "sustainable" has no credibility.
Its seems like every environmental group is opposed to trawling and it has recently been banned in hong kong and other countries. How is possible that our Alaska trawl fishery is not doing irreversible damage to the ecosystem?
Salty
2013-01-27 23:33:42
I don't know the answer to how the Alaska Trawl Fishery got certified. Here is the site of a group I am a member of that can probably answer that question though.
http://www.akmarine.org/
Here is the MSC site, ask them.
http://www.msc.org/
Years ago I put together a video for the marine conservation council which showed the damage trawls do to the Alaska seafloor. One on groundfish bottom trawling and another on scallop dredging. There is no doubt in my mind that trawls being towed across the bottom change the marine habitat.
Looking at hours of video tape from submersibles to put together two 8 minute videos gave me an appreciation of the amazing coral and sponge beds off Alaska that I never had before. Right off of my house about 15 miles are both coral forests and huge sponge beds with sponges 3-4 feet in diameter and 2-3 feet tall. Then looking at these after a trawl has been towed through them is one of the saddest fishery experiences of my life.
FV_Wild_Card
2013-01-27 23:57:16
Salty
2013-01-28 02:36:48
Thanks wild card. Long post detailing my history dealing with trawlers deleted. Have a good evening.
JYDPDX
2013-01-28 05:20:18
Why would you type and delete important information like that? Or are you inferring a poor internet connection issue?
Salty
2013-01-28 07:30:06
Sometimes the battles of the past are better left buried.
My feelings on the trawling are such that they shouldn't be posted in a friendly public forum on trolling. I have spent about 20 minutes typing and deleting and re-typing a honest heartfelt answer to your question.
Basically it is a battle of my past, I choose not to re-engage in it again. It is for others now. I am focused right now on getting recognition for the wonderful artisan troll salmon we produce and my job representing the troll industry on the NSRAA Board.
JYDPDX
2013-01-29 10:32:53
[quote="Salty" I am focused right now on getting recognition for the wonderful artisan troll salmon we produce
Really? By yaking about a logo with a bunch of trollers? Good thing for your keen eye on ideas that are likely to gather momentum.
Salty
2013-01-29 19:41:09
My experience is that sometimes the seemingly least likely idea can blossom into the one that makes a difference. Plus, this takes relatively little time and energy.
Perhaps you are sincerely complimenting me on my keen eye for ideas that are likely to gather momentum. Perhaps not. It could go both ways as I think back. I certainly have been known to champion lost causes. I also have been fortunate to have been involved in numerous campaigns that blossomed.
A key ingredient to most of these is at least one person who decides to be its "champion".
Salty
2013-01-29 22:36:38
Salty
2013-02-01 21:29:15
http://kdlg.org/news.php
Interesting story on ASMI testimony to the legislature on distancing Alaska salmon from the MSC certification.
From Pacific Fishing Fish Wrap.