2009’s best options for wild Pacific salmon

Consumers who love wild Pacific salmon, but are concerned about dwindling populations can find advice on how to make sustainable purchasing decisions in SeaChoice’s latest annual salmon assessment.

The number of Pacific salmon returning to many spawning rivers across British Columbia is expected to be very low this season, highlighting the need for consumers to make careful decisions when buying wild salmon, according to Jeffery Young, aquatic biologist with the David Suzuki Foundation and author of the assessment.

“Many consumers want to make decisions that are good for our oceans, but it’s not always clear what the best choice actually is,” Mr. Young said. “Our annual wild salmon assessment provides timely advice on which Canadian salmon fisheries are providing wild salmon from sustainable fisheries.”

The 2009 assessment was prepared for SeaChoice, Canada’s national seafood program, which uses a Green (Best Choice), Yellow (Some Concerns), and Red (Avoid) system to rank seafood options for consumers. While all B.C. Pacific salmon are ranked as Yellow, this detailed assessment addresses the complexity and variability of wild salmon and provides specific recommendations for better and worse choices each year.

Skeena River sockeye and pink salmon that are selectively caught in the river, and Fraser River pink salmon have been identified as better alternatives this year due to higher stock populations and good fisheries management.

Fraser River sockeye salmon are a worse alternative due to the inability of the fishery to distinguish between abundant and endangered stocks.

“We’re asking consumers to use their purchasing power to create incentives for sustainable fisheries and promote healthy oceans,” said Bill Wareham, SeaChoice representative for the David Suzuki Foundation. “If the river of origin or species of salmon is not available on a seafood label, we encourage consumers, retailers and chefs to ask suppliers where their salmon has come from.”

Pacific salmon returns in 2008 were described as some of the lowest in 50 years. Habitat loss, fisheries mismanagement, and changes in ocean conditions exacerbated by climate change, have all contributed to declining salmon populations. Despite the challenges facing B.C.’s wild salmon, selective demand helps create an incentive for better management and continued prioritization of this ecologically and culturally important fish.


Formed in 2006, SeaChoice is a national program that provides science-based sustainability assessments of seafood to Canadian consumers, fishermen, chefs and businesses. More than 350,000 printed copies of Canada’s Seafood Guide, the program’s guide to sustainable seafood, are in circulation across the country.

SeaChoice is a collaborative initiative led by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society and Sierra Club BC, and works in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.

For more information, contact: Sutton Eaves Communications Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation 604-732-4228 (office) 778-829-3265 (mobile) seaves@davidsuzuki.org

Or visit:
www.seachoice.org

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