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Lower catch limit on Alaskan pollock may impact QSRs
December 16, 2009
Quick-serve restaurants may have to switch sourcing for the whitefish used in their battered fish sandwiches in coming years, if the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's lowest catch limit on the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island harvest of Alaskan pollock in more than three decades becomes a trend, according to Reuters U.S. edition.
The recommendation that no more than 813,000 metric tons of pollock — a 2,000-metric ton reduction from last year's limit — be harvested in 2010 is to ensure the fish stocks remain sustainable.
From Reuters:
The move may not immediately affect big buyers like McDonald's Corp (MCD.N), which can source fish products widely, but if the trend of smaller catches continues, it could eventually undermine the dominance of Bering Sea pollock and put a squeeze on world seafood markets. ...Food industry representatives said the harvest limit, while much lower than in past years, is acceptable because it reflects careful management of the resource."The thing is, it's not overfished," said David Benton, a former Alaska state fisheries manager who heads the Marine Conservation Alliance, a coalition of fishermen and fishing-dependent communities. "It's not in bad shape. It's just in a low-harvest cycle."
Long John Silver's relies primarily on Eastern Bering Sea fisheres for its Alaskan pollock sourcing, but the company also uses New Zealand hoki and South Agrican hake for its battered fish program, according to Yum! Brands Corporate Responsbility Report.
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