Certifier : 
Acoura Marine Limited trading as LRQA
Certified status : 
Combined with another assessment
Certified since : 
28 Jul 2011
Certificate expires : 
30 Apr 2017

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.

Attention

Some or all units that participated in this fishery are now covered by another assessment. Please see the British Columbia salmon for more information.

 

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification) Certificate Code
    UoC-0223 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0014
    UoC-0222 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0013
    UoC-0221 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Gillnets And Entangling Nets - Gillnets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0015
    UoC-0220 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0014
    UoC-0219 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0013
    UoC-0218 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Hooks And Lines - Trolling lines 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0015
    UoC-0216 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0013
    UoC-0217 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0014
    UoC-0215 Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Seine Nets 67 (Pacific, Northeast) Withdrawn F-ACO-0015

View glossary of terms

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
Vessel List 10 Feb 2016 1 files
List of client group members 13 Jul 2015 1 files

About this Fishery

NOTE: This fishery is currently in re-assessment as part of the combined British Columbia salmon fishery

Pink salmon are found in streams and rivers from California north to the Mackenzie River, with their principal spawning areas between Puget Sound, Washington, and Bristol Bay, Alaska. This certified fishery operates in the Canadian Pacific and British Columbia coastal waters, around the North and Central Coast, Inner South Coast and Fraser River.

After hatching in freshwater streams, pink salmon fry swim quickly to sea and grow rapidly as they make extensive feeding migrations. After 18 months in the ocean, maturing fish return to their natal rivers to spawn and die.

British Columbia chum salmon are caught by seine, gillnet or troll gear.

Trollers catch around a quarter of the commercial harvest. They employ hooks and lines, suspended from large poles extending from the fishing vessel.

Seine nets are set from fishing boats with the assistance of a small skiff. Nets are set in a circle around aggregations of salmon. The bottom edges of the net are then drawn together into a 'purse' to prevent fish escaping. Seiners take around half the commercial catch.

Gill netters generally fish near coastal rivers and inlets, taking another quarter of the commercial catch. Salmon gill nets are rectangular nets that hang in the water. Altering mesh size and the way in which nets are suspended in the water allows fishers to target certain species and sizes selectively.

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha) © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

Market Information

British Columbia pink salmon are sold worldwide.