ALASKA LEADS THE WORLD IN SUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES

Alaskan fisheries are a model of sustainability; they lead the world in conservative, transparent fisheries management practices. Over the 40 years since the passing of the Magnusson Stevens act in 1976, both the U.S. and Alaska state governments have collected more publicly available scientific fisheries management data than any other fishery worldwide. American consumers who choose Alaska Pollock, Alaska Salmon, Alaska Crab, or Alaska Cod can rest assured they are making sensible choices for sustainably caught fish.

The modern pollock industry, while by no means perfect, is one of the best managed in the world.

ANDY SHARPLESS, CEO OF OCEANAPERFECT PROTEIN: THE FISH LOVER’S GUIDE TO SAVING THE OCEANS AND FEEDING THE WORLD, PG. 99

BYCATCH IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM

Bycatch is one of the most important concepts in sustainable fishing. It is defined by the unintentional removal of seabirds, marine mammals, turtles, or other sea creatures while fishing for a target species, such as Alaska Pollock. This number when expressed as a percentage means that with a 10% bycatch, for every 100 lbs of seafood/other animals taken out of the water/environment, the fishers do not want 10 lbs of what is caught.

SUSTAINABLE FISHING IS ABOUT WHAT ISN’T CAUGHT

The total amount of global Bycatch is difficult to report on because it is often not measured by fisheries; not every country’s government has transparency and accountability programs for commercial fishing. In 1994 and again in 2004, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) commissioned a series of reports that tried
to estimate global bycatch, but it’s difficult to get a clear picture because many countries lack sufficient data. The United States has excellent data for U.S. Fisheries which Average 17% Bycatch. For comparison, a 2009 WWF Report estimated 2000-2005 Total Peruvian fisheries bycatch at 39.3% of total landings (anchovies make up the lowest %).

Bycatch is the catch of non-target fish and ocean wildlife, including what is brought to port and what is discarded at sea. It is one of the most significant threats to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

OCEANA

WASTED CATCH: UNSOLVED PROBLEMS IN U.S. FISHERIES, MARCH 2014

THE GOLD STANDARD FOR SUSTAINABLY CAUGHT FISH

The Blue MSC Label Means Traceable, Sustainable Seafood. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring consumer’s have traceable, sustainable choices when purchasing seafood products. From ocean to plate (or supplement bottle), MSC certified fish and seafood is separated from non-certified fish. It is traceable both by lot number and by species back to a certified sustainable fishery. Wiley’s Finest is proud to offer a full line of Fish Oil supplements made from a single species source, which is clearly labeled on every package.

A 2012 study “Comparison of wildcapture fisheries certification schemes” commissioned by World Wildlife Federation (WWF) found that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) scored better than any other certification program for seafood. There are over 23,000 fresh, frozen and canned products sold globally which bear the MSC
mark. Only about 350 of them are Fish Oil or krill oil Omega-3 supplements. Wiley’s Finest has 38 MSC certified SKUs, which is more than any other Fish Oil brand.