The fight to keep Alaska seafood in Wal-Mart stores continues, about six months after it began.
Alaska Sen. Mark Begich is still putting pressure on the retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Earlier this week he issued a press release praising the Arkansas-based company for continuing to carry Alaska seafood for "years to come."
The problem is Wal-Mart still hasn't responded either way on whether or not it will accept Alaska's new sustainable seafood certification. The statement the company sent to Begich is word for word the same statement from earlier this month, when representatives met with state officials in Juneau to learn more about the certification program. While the company says it's committed to "buying Alaska seafood," the statement cites its continuing effort to review Alaska's sustainable seafood certification program.
This summer, Wal-Mart announced it would only sell seafood deemed sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Alaska fisheries began withdrawing from the MSC program in early 2013 in favor of the Responsible Fisheries Management standards certification through the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Alaska has always contended its fisheries are sustainable, and cited the high costs and slow progress of the council to re-certify the Prince William Sound salmon fishery as reasons to dump the MSC eco-label.
Wal-Mart's decision left fishermen and politicians wondering whether Alaska seafood would still find its way into Wal-Mart's 4,000 retail stores, since the company did not cite the ASMI program as meeting their sustainability standards. The company is still buying Alaska seafood in the interim -- according to the state, 97 percent of Wal-Mart's salmon comes from Alaska -- as it continues to review ASMI's program to make sure it meets the "principles for credible sustainable fisheries programs."
ASMI Spokesman Tyson Fick said everyone is playing the waiting game now to see how Wal-Mart responds. The institute is still working with Wal-Mart to address any concerns the company may have with the Responsible Fisheries Management program.
"They haven't said that they want any changes, it was more an exchange of ideas," Fick said of their January meetings. "But everyone felt good when they left the room."
Begich has been a leader in the fight to ensure Alaska seafood remains in Wal-Mart stores following the certification fallout. On Monday, he said a letter sent to his office that same day from Wal-Mart will hold the company accountable to him. If they don't act quickly, he'll call them back in front of a congressional committee.
"When you get a call from a committee and say you're going to be in front of a congressional hearing, they're not excited," he said.
Still, the pressure is on, according to Begich. He said if the company doesn't take action quickly -- within the next 30 to 60 days -- he'll call the company back up for another hearing. After months of inaction, he said it's time for the company to make a decision.
"Fish or cut bait, man," he said. "That's how I look at it."
Contact Suzanna Caldwell at suzanna(at)alaskadispatch.com