Saving Seafood

North Pacific council seeks public comment on pelagic trawl gear

June 1, 2026 — Federal fisheries managers are scheduled to take up pelagic trawl gear issues in Alaska’s commercial fisheries when they meet June 1 to June 9 in Vancouver, Wash. 

   Members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) plan to hear presentations from industry, processor and research entities and research updates to determine whether further action should be pursued to minimize the impact of trawl bycatch on other species.

   NPFMC staff posted the June 2025 Pelagic Trawl Gear Innovation report for discussion at the June meetings. The council may also evaluate potential management measures to minimize the impacts of pelagic trawl gear in areas that are closed to nonpelagic trawl gear and address potential unobserved crab mortality, council staff said.    

    Trawl bycatch of salmon and other species in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska has prompted economic controversy for years, particularly from rural residents pursuing a subsistence lifestyle. The trawl fishery plays a significant role in the economy of areas such as Kodiak Island.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

New England groundfishery gains MSC certification

May 17, 2018 — The haddock, pollock, and Acadian redfish trawl in the U.S. Gulf of Maine and Georges Banks officially received MSC certification on 10 May.

Two companies, Fisherman’s Wharf based in Gloucester, Mass.; and Atlantic Trawlers based in Portland, Maine; worked to receive the certification. After roughly a year and extensive assessments the fishery was approved as sustainable.

“With the MSC certification, the fishery can guarantee that the fish stocks are healthy, the fishery has minimal impact on the marine ecosystem, and there is effective, responsive, and responsible management in place,” MSC spokesperson Jackie Marks said.

Certification allows the two companies to use the MSC blue ecolabel on their products, something that the owners of both Atlantic Trawlers and Fishermen’s Wharf saw as a good way to expand their market reach.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

New England Haddock, Pollock and Redfish Trawl Fishery Achieves MSC Certification

May 8, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS —  The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has certified the New England haddock, pollock and redfish trawl fishery as sustainable.

Portland, Maine-based Atlantic Trawlers Fishing, who spearheaded the MSC certification efforts, confirmed the news on Monday.

“The MSC label is the gold star standard of certification and will assure our customers that these fish stocks are healthy and well managed,” Jim Odlin of Atlantic Trawlers said in a statement. “Our vessels – the Nobska, Morue, Harmony, Teresa Marie III and Teresa Marie IV – also use modified fishing gear to minimize the catch of other stocks, like cod, so we can maximize the catch of haddock, pollock and redfish.”

The MSC assessment concluded that the New England fishery management system is “robust and contains requirements that lead to the fulfillment of MSC principles.” The assessment also found that the fishery has extensive catch accountability and traceability systems, as well as strong science supporting the foundation for “rebuilding and maintaining abundant stocks of haddock and redfish, which were previously overfished.”

This story was originally published by Seafood News, it is republished here with permission.