Have a hake, it's sustainable!

Looks like the West Coast hake fishery has made the grade for Marine Stewardship Council certification.

Some of the same factory trawlers that catch Bering Sea pollock also harvest hake, or whiting, in federal waters off Washington, Oregon and California.

Here's a press release:

Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative

Oct. 21, 2009

Pacific Hake Fishery MSC-Certified as Responsibly Managed
Fishery Meets the Highest Environmental Standards

SEATTLE — Today the U.S. Pacific hake fishery was independently certified as well-managed and sustainable according to the internationally recognized sustainability standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an organization established by the World Wildlife Fund.

The largest fishery on the West Coast, the U.S. Pacific hake midwater trawl fishery is conducted in federal waters that extend out to 200 miles off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. The fish is also known as Pacific whiting in many international markets.

The sustainability certification resulted from a comprehensive two-year scientific assessment of the fishery by a team of independent fisheries scientists. The MSC certification process is based on the best available information, is transparent, and encourages stakeholder participation throughout the process.

The exhaustive review reaffirms that the Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service manage this fishery responsibly, and adjust its management to address changing environmental conditions. This certification is also a reflection of an industry that promotes and supports regulatory actions that ensure healthy fishery stocks.

"Today's determination by the MSC is an important independent validation of how the Pacific hake fishery is managed responsibly by a progressive fishery management system," said Jan Jacobs, President of the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative (PWCC). "This action provides assurance to consumers around the world that products supplied from the Pacific hake fishery are best choices for seafood."

The U.S. clients for the MSC assessment are the PWCC and the Oregon Trawl Commission, representing all sectors, of the U.S. Pacific hake fishery, including the onshore, mothership and catcher-processor sectors.

The PWCC was formed in 1997 to promote rational harvesting and to minimize effects of fishing on the environment. Its members are American Seafoods Company, Glacier Fish Company, and Trident Seafoods Corporation.