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Oregon shrimpers snare seal of approval
A first - An international agency recognizes the pink shrimp industry as a leader in sustainability
GAIL KINSEY HILL
The Oregonian Staff
Oregon's pink shrimp industry on Thursday became the first shrimp fishery in the world to receive a sustainability stamp of approval from the Marine Stewardship Council, an international nonprofit that promotes responsible fishing practices.
The certification from the independent council could bolster Oregon's reputation as a leader in sustainable resource management and help boost an industry hurt by fierce competition from Canadian and Norwegian imports, industry and state leaders said at a morning news conference.
The blue MSC label, which will begin showing up in grocery stores soon, also may appeal to consumers seeking local, eco-friendly food, they said.
 "If you want to expand markets, then you're going to have to have some kind of certification, " said Brad Pettinger, director of the Oregon Trawl Commission.
Pink shrimp also are known as bay or salad shrimp and are popular atop appetizers and in pastas. They're available canned or frozen any time and fresh April through October.
Environmental concerns have dogged shrimp fisheries for years, with criticism zeroing in on the large amounts of fish that get caught up in the nets as they're dragged along the ocean bottom.
Oregon, Washington and California use grates to filter out unwanted species. The device, which resembles a round barbecue grill, is placed inside the socklike trawl net. The shrimp pass through the openings and are trapped in the net, but most other fish such as rock and ground fish do not and are released unharmed.
"It's one of the cleanest fisheries we have as a result," said Patty Burke, marine program manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which oversees state fisheries.
The trawl commission's Pettinger said the international certification helps seal the industry's reputation as a responsible fishery.
"It's really an acknowledgment of the fishery's stewardship," he said.
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