Certifier : 
MRAG Americas, Inc.
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
01 Oct 2000
Certificate expires : 
11 Nov 2024

Overview

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.

When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • Certified
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-2648 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0297 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0315 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0306 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0287 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0311 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2649 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2651 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0321 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0285 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2659 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2652 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2653 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2669 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0280 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2650 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2663 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2668 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0318 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Traps - Barriers, fences, weirs, etc. 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0276 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0325 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 18 (Arctic Sea) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0296 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0305 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0314 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0329 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0324 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0345 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0317 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0333 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0310 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2656 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0337 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0293 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2654 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2670 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0302 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0341 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0349 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2664 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0281 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0320 Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Traps - Barriers, fences, weirs, etc. 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0277 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0299 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0343 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0313 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0327 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0323 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0289 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0316 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0331 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0308 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0286 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2660 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0335 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2655 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2671 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0347 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2665 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0282 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0319 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Traps - Barriers, fences, weirs, etc. 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0278 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0344 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0304 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0290 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0328 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2099 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2674 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0332 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0309 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0295 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2657 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2661 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0336 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0292 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2672 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0301 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0340 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2666 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0348 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0283 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0279 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0298 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Driftnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0307 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0312 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0322 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0294 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0330 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0342 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0303 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0288 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2658 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2662 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0334 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0291 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2673 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Seine Nets - Beach seines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0346 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0338 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0284 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-2667 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
    UoC-0300 Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) MSC-F-30027
  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification)
    UoC-0326 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn
    UoC-0339 Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Coho-silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 2022 4,831.2
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 2022 1,519.8
Sockeye-red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) 2022 171,434.9
Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) 2022 110,661.2
Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) 2022 49,877.5

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.

Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists

A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.

Documents Published on Files
List of client group members 19 Jul 2024 1 files

About this Fishery

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) illustration © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

The Alaska salmon fishery targets five species of salmon in US territorial waters off the coast of Alaska. Salmon hatch in fresh water, spend part of their life in the ocean, and then migrate back to spawn in fresh water. Millions of salmon head to Alaska’s rivers during these salmon runs. All salmon die after spawning.

Sockeye salmon support one of the most important commercial fisheries on the Pacific coast of North America, representing about a quarter of the total salmon harvest. They are increasingly sought after in recreational fisheries, and are a mainstay of many subsistence users.

Chinook salmon is Alaska's state fish and is one of the most important sport and commercial fish native to the Pacific coast of North America. It is the largest of all Pacific salmon, with individual fish commonly weighing over 30 pounds (13 kg).

Chum salmon are the most abundant commercially harvested salmon species in Arctic, northwestern, and interior Alaska.

The other species harvested are coho salmon and pink salmon, the smallest species.

Salmon are harvested by nets (drift and set gillnets, purse seine), trolling and fishwheels. Trolling is fishing by drawing a baited line or lure behind a boat. A fishwheel operates much like a water-powered mill wheel: fish travelling upstream are caught in baskets on the wheel, then transferred into a holding tank.

Market Information

In recent years more than 80% of Alaska salmon has been sold whole or gutted. Three-quarters of the fresh or frozen product is exported, with Japan purchasing about 80% of this. The canned product is sold primarily within Europe and the United States although more recently fresh and smoked product has been more widely available in these markets.