Press Release by Russian Pollock Sustainability Alliance Company Members 25th January 2013
Subject: Determination reached by the Conformity Assessment Body, Intertek Moody that the Russian Sea of Okhotsk Pollock Fishery should be certified in accordance with the MSC Standard.
The Russian Pollock Sustainability Alliance Companies, made up of leading brands, processors and buyers of fish from across the world including: Delmar, FRoSTA, Gorton’s, High Liner Foods, Iglo Foods Group, Pickenpack, Royal Greenland and Young’s Seafood Ltd, wish to issue the following statement following the publication of the Final Certification Report for the Russian Sea of Okhotsk Pollock fishery by Intertek Moody.
‘We are delighted that after an enormous amount of hard work, in particular, over the last three years and through the dedication of the Russian Pollock Catchers Association (PCA) to work with us and with the support of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency; Intertek Moody’s appointed international expert team and subsequent governance oversight committee have been able to recommend that the Russian Sea of Okhotsk Pollock fishery should be certified in accordance with the MSC standard.
The Russian Pollock Fisheries management system has been scrutinised in great detail and as much as any other MSC fishery in the past. Overcoming the language and cultural perception barriers has been a significant challenge throughout the whole process. We are therefore pleased that Intertek Moody has assessed the Sea of Okhotsk to the MSC standard and used this as the basis of evaluation and that the Pollock Catchers Association has also agreed to implement the recommended Action Plan with support from the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency.
We look forward to supporting the PCA as it continues its programme to ensure that the Russian Pollock Sea of
Okhotsk is compliant with the MSC standard well into the future’.
No further statement will be issued whilst the PCA is within the formal MSC assessment process.
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