Narody Severa and Bolsheretsk salmon fishery begins MSC assessment process

The Narody Severa and Bolsheretsk pink, chum, sockeye, and coho salmon fishery operating in the Sea of Okhotsk and Western Kamchatka, Russia has entered into full assessment in the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification programme.

The assessment will evaluate the fishery against the MSC principles and criteria for sustainable fishing and, if successful, salmon from the fishery will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.

The target species for this fishery assessment are sockeye, chum, pink, and coho salmon in the Opala and Kihchik Rivers, and pink salmon on the Bolshaya River. The method of catch in the sea is set nets and beach seines are used in rivers. The fishery operates during the return of the salmon stocks to natal rivers, and occurs annually from July to September.

The clients for this assessment are Narody Severa, Ltd. and Bolsheretsk, Ltd. In 2012, catch volumes for all four species were 18,826 tons for Boslheretsk, Ltd. and 11,560 tons for Narody Severa, Ltd. Currently, nearly all of the fish is sold in the domestic Russian market and processed into various products.

Source: www.thefishsite.com