- Certifier :
- MRAG Americas, Inc.
- Certified status :
- Combined with another assessment
- Certified since :
- 20 May 2010
- Certificate expires :
- 28 Apr 2021
Overview
Attention
Some or all units that participated in this fishery are now covered by another assessment. Please see the BSAI and GOA flatfish for more information.
Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.
Attention
Some or all units that participated in this fishery are now covered by another assessment. Please see the BSAI and GOA flatfish for more information.
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Kamchatka flounder (Atheresthes evermanni) | 2018 | 3,053 |
| Flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) | 2018 | 10,649 |
| Alaska plaice (Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus) | 2018 | 23,028 |
| Yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera) | 2018 | 124,519 |
| Arrow-tooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) | 2018 | 6,506 |
| Northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) | 2018 | 28,219 |
Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.
About this Fishery
In the 1970s, many flatfish stocks in the Bering Sea had collapsed or becoming depleted following overfishing by foreign vessels in the 1950s and 1960s. But careful management since has seen flatfish make a spectacular recovery, and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands flatfish fishery has become a model of sustainable fishing.
Conservative management has increased flatfish biomass to unprecedented levels: in recent years, the actual catch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of 200,000-250,000 tonnes has been just 20-25 per cent of the annual catch limits established by scientists.
There are strict quotas in place for the various flatfish species the fishery targets (yellowfin, flathead and northern rock sole, Alaska plaice, arrowhead and Kamchatka flounder) as well as bycatch species such as crab and halibut. Fishing cooperatives have been formed, and the quotas are allocated between them, enabling individual vessels to make the most of their time at sea while preventing overharvesting.
In 2011, the fishery introduced new gear that uses bobbins or spindles to raise the trawl net off the seafloor. This has reduced contact with the seafloor by 90 per cent, helping reducing the impact on seabed habitats and non-target species such as crab.
"You can see and you can feel when you talk to people and they say, 'Yeah, we are certified and sustainable,' that it means something to the crew and the guys who are running the boats and the office" - Bill Orr, president of the Alaska Seafood Cooperative and CEO of Iquique US, a member company
Market Information
Alaska flatfish are sold to domestic, Asian and European consumers.