August 23 , 2008 Edition
Sustainability Forum Details Alaska Management
Opening the session, Ray Riutta, ASMI Executive Director, explained that Alaska is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Statehood, and marking 50 years of sustainable management of Alaska’s fisheries resources. Riutta stated that “there is a lot of confusion in the marketplace about what constitutes a sustainable fishery.” He told forum attendees that the purpose of the forum was to clear up some of that confusion, and provide some of the top sellers of Alaska seafood with the knowledge and resources they need to make sound decisions with respect to corporate responsibility as it pertains to sourcing sustainable seafood.
Ray Riutta, Executive Director ASMI; Denby Lloyd, Commissioner, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game;
Peter Hajipieris, Birds Eye/Iglo; Dr. Bruce Leaman, International Pacific Halibut Commission
The forum offered presentations by leading fisheries officials. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Denby Lloyd detailed the importance of commercial fishing to the economy. He described the reliance on sound science that is a hallmark of Alaska fisheries management, and explained that decisions about how to allocate fisheries resources are the responsibility of a public body subject to a transparent public process. The allocation system values citizen involvement, and the seafood industry is sometimes called upon to forgo near term profit for the long term health of the resource.
The nation’s top fisheries manager presented at the forum. Dr. Jim Balsiger, acting assistant administrator for fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, heads up management of U.S. marine fisheries, including research, fisheries management, law enforcement and conservation. He has extensive experience in Alaska fisheries, having headed up the Alaska region for many years. Dr. Balsiger indicated that one of several key mandates of the recently reauthorized Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is ending overfishing throughout the nation (no stocks are being overfished in Alaska). He also discussed the use in Alaska of programs that may offer solutions to fisheries problems elsewhere: on-board fisheries observers paid for by the seafood industry, and rights-based programs that give users a stake in the reward of improvements in the health of the fisheries.
Presentations on sustainable fisheries were also offered by Dr. Bruce Leaman, executive director of the International Pacific Halibut Commission, set up 80 years ago by the U.S. and Canada to conserve the Pacific halibut resource; David Witherell, (pictured below) deputy director of the North Pacific Fisheries
Management Council, the federal regional management council in which Alaska participates; and Peter Hajipieris, director of sustainability and external relations at Birds Eye/Iglo, a major United Kingdom and European frozen seafood brand.
Following panel presentations and dialogue between forum attendees and panelists, United Fisherman of Alaska president Joe Childers addressed the group to describe the pride of Alaska fishermen, and the limitations that have been necessary for sustainability: the limitations have been difficult to accept, Childers said, “but we have come to accept that hard TACs [catch limits] and firm quotas are the best way moving forward.”
As the forum drew to a conclusion, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell explained that Alaska’s gubernatorial administration values strong fisheries management based on sound science, and noted that one reason Alaska treasures healthy fisheries is “because it translates into sustainable Alaskan communities.”
A presentation on leveraging the value of the Alaska Seafood brand was included, and ASMI showcased a new line of retail and foodservice sustainability materials: posters, table tents, menu inserts, static clings for seafood cases, all bearing the Alaska Seafood logo above the words “Wild, Natural & Sustainable.” The posters, featuring an aerial view of tree-covered islands, snow covered mountains and clear blue water, carry the logo accompanied by the words “The Alaska Seafood logo affirms your support for sustainable fisheries.”
Dr. Jim Balsiger responds to a question posed during presentation by
ASMI seafood technical director Randy Rice.
ASMI seafood technical director Randy Rice explains why the Alaska Seafood logo
connotes sustainability.
Dr. James Balsiger, NOAA, (right) fields a question at the Alaska Seafood Sustainability Forum.
At center, presenters Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Commissioner Denby Lloyd, at left,
Peter Hajipieris, Birds Eye/Iglo.
Peter Hajipieris, director of sistainability and external relations at Birds Eye/Iglo, shared
his expertise.
Joe Childers, President of United Fishermen of Alaska, addresses forum attendees about Alaska
harvesters' commitment to sustainable fisheries.
A presentation by Lt. Governor Sean Parnell (left) concluded the Forum. Lt. Governor Parnell
visited after the Forum with Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Commissioner Denby Lloyd and
ASMI executive director Ray Riutta.
Additional Sustainability Forum snapshots:
