The changes in the way salmon is managed and harvested over the last seven years have encouraged the industry to seek independent evaluation of its fishery through the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Modeled on the Forest Stewardship Council, MSC is an independent, global non-profit organization whose mandate is to provide a market incentive for better fisheries management.

The organization has developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Fisheries whose practices meet this standard earn the right to display the MSC logo on their products, indicating to consumers that their product has not contributed to the environmental problem of over-fishing.

The BC Salmon Marketing Council, acting for both harvesters and processors of wild salmon, initiated the MSC certification process in September 2001. The evaluation team was established after much consultation with stakeholders in June 2002. The final units of certification, performance indicators and scoring guidelines were published in June 2003. BC's progress towards MSC certification can be tracked through the MSC website .

Source: Adapted with permission from BC Salmon Marketing Council, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada Seafood Online.