ASMI Plans Seafood Certification Changes, Task Force Created

JUNEAU — The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute announced plans to amend its “Responsible Fisheries Management” certification program and create a taskforce on the issue after a daylong closed board meeting April 23.

The action is a direct response to the January announcement by Walmart that it would continue buying Alaska wild salmon certified as sustainable under the institute, or ASMI’s, fisheries management certification instead of the Marine Stewardship Council’s ecolabel.

“It was illuminated with our interaction with the Walmart folks. We made promises to them that we’d improve our sustainability, governance and structure. At this meeting we did that,” said Kevin Adams, ASMI board chairman, following its unanimous approval of a $250,000 budget for the effort.

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