Alaska Seafood chain of custody standard complete

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has completed its Chain of Custody Standard, and is now accepting applications for Chain of Custody Certification. This is part of ASMI's ongoing Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-Based Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification Program, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to ASMI.

The Chain of Custody Standard ensures that only Alaska seafood products bearing a statement "sourced from a certified Alaska fishery" can make this claim. It will ensure that all certified Alaska seafood can be traced back through the supply chain to the fishery that was certified as part of the Alaska Certification Program. To date, both Alaska Salmon and Alaska Halibut have received the FAO-based certification, and applications have been submitted for Alaska Black Cod, Alaska Pollock, and Alaska Crab.

This Chain of Custody Certification is required for any applicant that buys seafood from a certified fishery and wishes to make the certified claim on any of their packaging. Certified seafood handlers will be able to demonstrate effective traceability and have systems in place to ensure that the certified seafood product is not mixed with non-certified seafood.

If an applicant buys seafood from a certified fishery, but does not wish to make the certified claim on any of their packaging, they will not require certification. A certification to the Chain of Custody Standard takes from one to three months and includes a number of distinct steps.
To learn more about the Alaska Chain of Custody Standard, and to download the Standard (PDF file), click here.
To learn more about the Alaska Chain of Custody Application Process, click here.
To obtain an application form please contact Mike Platt at Global Trust Certification Ltd. at mikeplatt@gtcert.com.

About Alaska Seafood

For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. It's so essential to our way of life that our constitution has a mandate that "fish ... be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle."

The seafood industry is Alaska's largest private sector employer. As a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. We're proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an ever-replenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world. www.alaskaseafood.org