In Alaska, a battle over salmon and Walmart

Most supermarket chains now have policies and deadlines to make sure all the seafood they sell is sustainably caught. As deadlines loom, friction with suppliers is bound to happen. Case in point is a battle between Walmart and the Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute. Walmart wants salmon suppliers in Alaska to be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. The Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute, however, thinks its own responsible fishery management certification is good enough. The brouhaha has spilled over into the political world. Alaskan Senator Mark Begich last week sent a letter to Walmart asking why Walmart insists suppliers can use only one sustainable seafood “broker.” Others say big deal. If Walmart doesn’t want Alaskan salmon, there are plenty of other markets around the world willing to buy salmon from Alaska. Read the full story here.