Coastal Restoration

Half of fish come from ‘well or reasonably’ managed fisheries, the other half from fisheries that need ‘significant improvements’.

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) today released its annual review of the state of wild salmon fisheries. The analysis covers 82 principal Pacific salmon fisheries that target five species (pink, chum, sockeye, coho, and Chinook salmon) across the North Pacific and account for 95% of the global wild-capture commercial salmon harvest.

The fisheries are rated as either category A, B or C depending on the quality of the management and the status of the stock. An ‘A’ fishery is considered ‘very well managed’ while a ‘B’ category fishery is considered to be ‘reasonably well managed’. A category ‘C’ fishery is considered to be poorly managed and in need of significant improvements. The report concludes that: - 52% of the total volume of Pacific salmon comes from well or reasonably managed fisheries (Categories A and B).  This includes 99% of coho, 87% of sockeye, 60% of pink, 48% of Chinook, and 23% of chum salmon global harvest.
 

- 48% of the total volume of Pacific salmon comes from fisheries in need of significant improvements (Category C). 22% is accounted for by Russian fisheries with illegal fishing issues; 13% by Japanese chum fisheries with hatchery issues; and 10% by Prince William Sound, Alaska, fisheries with hatchery issues.
 

- 74% of Alaskan, 95% of British Columbian, and 47% of Russian salmon harvest volumes come from well or reasonably managed fisheries. 
 

- All of the Pacific Northwest US and Japanese fisheries included in this report need significant improvements.
 

- In 2013–2014, the salmon sector exhibited increased engagement in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) program. Over half (50.3%) of global supply now comes from fisheries either certified by or under full assessment by MSC.
 

- Scoring of Category C fisheries indicated four priority areas where improvements are needed: (1) illegal fishing, (2) hatcheries, (3) harvest control practices for depleted stocks, and (4) offshore fisheries.

The report is available here: http://cmsdevelopment.sustainablefish.org.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/12/04/Pacific_Salmon_SFP_Sector_Report_2014_dec01-ea8f0079.pdf All fishery profiles can be found at www.fishsource.com   Pacific Salmon: SFP Fisheries Sustainability Overview 2014 Contact: Blake Lee-Harwood (UK time zone), blake.lee-harwood@sustainablefish.org, +44 7872621071Lani Asato (US West Coast), lani.asato@sustainablefish.org, 1+ (760)271-1545  

Salmonid Restoration Federation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of California's salmon, steelhead, and trout populations and their habitat. SRF educates individuals, organizations, and agencies about innovative techniques for salmonid restoration by sponsoring an annual conference in California and operating technical field schools. SRF is devoted to educating the community on the ecology and economy of restoring natural resources for future generations of fish and people. We are interested in building a sustainable economy in rural areas so people in the restoration field can make a living wage while restoring the natural environment.

US retail chains Kroger and Safeway have reportedly made up their minds not to sell Aquabounty salmon, regardless of a pending decision by the US Food and Drug Administration, reported Food Safety News.

The decision was released by a coalition of food safety, consumer, health and fishing groups.

The two grocery chains are now part of more than 9,000 stores across the country that have rejected carrying Aquabounty’s genetically modified Aquadvantage salmon — regardless of whether the FDA approves it for public consumption, which it has not yet officially done.

SCOTLAND, UK - Protect Wild Scotland has filed complaints with Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority regarding farmed Norwegian salmon being sold as wild Scottish salmon.

If the salmon won't come to the ocean, then the ocean will come to the salmon. Well, not quite: Tanker trucks will take them there. Such are the extreme measures in California this spring, as drought forces major salmon hatcheries to funnel their fish into tanker trucks and ride them straight to the Pacific.

SEATTLE -- Now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun the yearlong process that could lead to halting construction on the controversial Pebble Mine, stakeholders in Alaska’s bountiful Bristol Bay are weighing in.

CaSochi — Just outside the Olympic Park in Sochi, where the Winter Games open on Friday, is a green space with benches, artificial ponds and a couple of hides. "Ornithological Park", the sign declares.