Friday, March 20, 2026
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Alaska
Alaska Pollock Fishery Recertified as Sustainable by Marine Stewardship Council For Next Five Years
Seafood News by Ryan Doyle - March 20, 2026
The nation's largest fishery and the world's second-largest-volume fishery, Alaska pollock, was certified for the fifth time by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) yesterday. Alaska pollock, caught primarily in the eastern Bering Sea, was first certified in 2005 and has now been recertified until 2031, following a comprehensive, independent assessment.
“We are proud that the Alaska pollock fishery continues to meet the rigorous, science-based standards of the Marine Stewardship Council,” Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association (APA), which holds the MSC certificate for the Alaska pollock fishery, said in a statement released yesterday.
“This recertification reflects decades of responsible management, strong science, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement across the fleet.“
Credible third-party certification programs can provide seafood buyers and consumers with added confidence that their sourcing decisions are backed by credible, transparent standards,” Tinning added.
“That accountability is central to maintaining trust in global seafood markets.”
As the largest MSC-certified fishery globally, Alaska pollock plays a critical role in supporting coastal communities, providing a stable source of wild-caught protein, and contributing to the US seafood economy.
At-sea Processors Association (APA) is a trade association representing five member companies that own and operate 15 US-flag catcher/processor vessels.
This single fishery accounts for more than one-third of all US fishery landings each year, producing more than 3 billion seafood meals annually.
Through rigorous management at the federal, state, and industry levels, the fishery is widely recognized globally as a gold standard for sustainable fishery management, providing a model for securing healthy fisheries and marine ecosystems for generations to come.
“Sustainable fisheries are essential to the long-term health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them,” Tinning said. “We remain committed to advancing responsible practices and ensuring Alaska pollock continues to set the standard for sustainable fisheries worldwide.”
US pollock roe prices plunge at Seattle auction amid continued strong supply
Average price falls nearly 20% year-on-year as steady US and Russian output weighs on the Japanese market
Undercurrent News by Masahiko Takeuchi - March 17, 2026
Prices for Alaska pollock roe fell sharply at the first-stage A season auction in Seattle, Washington, as continued large supply from the US and Russia outpaced demand in the main Japanese market, industry sources told Undercurrent...
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SENA 2026: Inside Alaska’s emerging oyster industry
Markos Scheer of Seagrove and Eric O'Brien of Kodiak Ocean Bounty join Catch the Current at Seafood Expo North America
Undercurrent News by Amanda Buckle - March 19, 2026
Recording from the floor of Seafood Expo North America, Amanda Buckle sits down with Alaska mariculture farmers Markos Scheer of Seagrove and Eric O'Brien of Kodiak Ocean Bounty to unpack the surprising story behind the state's oyster sector...
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Petersburg assembly formally opposes statewide hatchery restriction proposals
Petersburg Pilot by Orin Pierson - March 19, 2026
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously Monday to formally oppose three proposals before the Alaska Board of Fisheries that would impose broad restrictions on Alaska’s private nonprofit salmon hatchery system — measures that Assembly Member Bob Martin, who brought the resolution forward, called the latest iteration of proposals that fisheries stakeholders across the region have consistently fought off.
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National
Lent timing fueled surge in US seafood sales
Seafood saw a stellar month in February, said Anne‑Marie Roerink, CEO of 210 Analytics.
Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - March 19, 2026
Seafood posted one of its strongest performances across US retailers in February, lifted by an early Easter and a series of winter storms that reshaped weekly demand patterns.
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Environment/Science
NOAA strengthens commitment to world-class tsunami monitoring and detection in Pacific
National Mesonet Program ensures seismic detection continues to operate in real time
NOAA Fisheries by staff - March 17, 2026
A new agreement between NOAA, the Alaska Mesonet and the seismic network operated by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Alaska Earthquake Center (UAF AEC) is funding nine AEC-owned seismic stations that support near-real-time tsunami threat information.
Cod vs. Crab: It’s Not Just Cod Abundance—Size Influences Predation on Crab
NOAA Fisheries by staff - March 19, 2026
A new study by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologists illuminates predator-prey dynamics between Pacific cod and commercially important snow and Tanner crabs.
Federal Register
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action #21-#22 (2024) and #9-#22 (2025)
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/20/2026
NMFS announces 2 inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 ocean salmon fisheries and 14 inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modify the commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada border to Pigeon Point, CA.
FYI’s
2026-2027 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
NOAA Fisheries - March 19, 2026
NOAA Fisheries announces final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
Juneau Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Atlas Workshop
NOAA Fisheries - March 2026
Join us in Juneau, Alaska, April 15, 2026, to learn more about the Aquaculture Opportunity Area process, review and ask questions about the recently published National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Gulf of Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas, and offer input on developing an Alaska aquaculture mapping and permitting tool.
In addition to the workshop in Juneau, two identical workshops will be offered in Anchorage and Kodiak. Please register here for the location you will attend.
Anchorage, March 9, 2026
Juneau, April 15, 2026
Kodiak, April 17, 2026
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
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Phone: 206.281.1667
E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net
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