Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang accused the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification body in an open letter of reducing its requirements favoring the Russian seafood industry. According to Vincent-Lang, this would have allowed Russian fisheries to remain within the certification program and mutual benefit.
The commissioner explained in the letter to MSC CEO Rupert Howes that he does not understand how the institution has remained on the sidelines in the aftermath of what has happened. He further added that the explanation was out of self-interest. "You have preserved your revenue stream from Russian fisheries while providing indirect support to the Putin regime and its brutal war of aggression while applying stricter standards to Alaskan fisheries."
He also stated that the 10 Russian salmon fisheries certified by the MSC would not comply with the standards. In addition, he argued that by transporting their products to China, they were reaching the entire West, thanks in some way to MSC's support.
After these severe accusations, MSC has answered in a press release its version of the facts, clarifying in the first place that it will have a meeting with the commissioner where it will resolve its doubts, but that it would publicly resolve some of the questions that encompassed him.
Regarding the Ukrainian war, he explained that they have openly condemned the invasion, but they are an international organization. "We are a global not-for-profit with a non-political mandate to end overfishing. Overfishing is an enormous environmental problem that threatens the future of our ocean and seafood supplies. It goes beyond national and regional considerations," stated the communiqué.
On the other hand, MSC clarified that they have organized the MSC program to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Third-party assessors independently make decisions as part of the process. As such, they explained that "while we do earn revenue from the logo fee for products eco-labeled with certified Russian fish, the track record of our program is that fisheries that do not comply with the requirements are suspended or lose their certificates."
Finally, he clarified the most significant point that indirect imports are a worldwide reality. "Despite the war, Russian seafood continues to be traded globally. The US prohibited the import of seafood from the Russian Federation in March 2022, but indirect imports have continued. Many countries have not imposed restrictions, including important trading blocs like the EU – due to food security and affordability concerns. If the MSC ecolabel disappeared from products, it may cause short-term disruption for retailers who have made sustainability commitments, but the legal trade in Russian seafood would continue."
Undoubtedly, the current geopolitical situation is still present. It touches on many points, and the seafood industry was not going to be an exception.
The Marine Stewardship Council actively works as an international non-profit organization. Their mission is to protect marine ecosystems and promote responsible fishing practices. Fisheries that meet the MSC's strict criteria can award the MSC certification. To achieve it, it takes into account sustainability, including minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring effective management.