Information on the Recent Ocean Wise Ranking Changes for Wild BC Salmon

Consumers who value sustainable seafood may be concerned over recent changes to Ocean Wise rankings for wild BC salmon. Here’s what we can tell you:

• Ocean Wise has changed their rankings for 2020 Sockeye, Pink and Chum salmon from British Columbia from “Recommended” to “Under Review”.

• The reason for this change is that the BC commercial salmon processors group (CPSFS) that held the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for these fisheries decided to withdraw from the MSC program due to lack of sufficient data from the federal government (DFO) salmon stock assessment program.

• The BC commercial salmon industry is working with DFO to address this gap over the next two years with the goal of restoring the MSC certification for these species.

• In the meantime, wild BC Chinook and Coho remain MSC certified, as do Sockeye, Pink and Chum salmon caught prior to Nov 2019.

• ·Consumers, buyers and chefs can rest assured that BC’s commercial fishermen continue to produce a sustainable product and look forward to restoring MSC certification to ensure this fishery remains an environmentally sound option.

• Wild BC Salmon continues to be an iconic, much loved and premium artisanal product desired by buyers who are aware of the incredible attributes of wild BC salmon. Continuing to purchase Wild BC Salmon locally helps support your commercial fishers, processors, restaurants and businesses and continues to be a critical component in the economy of vibrant coastal communities.