The USDA does not have a program in place for labeling fish as organic as I type this Log Entry.

In 2003 Senator Ted Steven's of Alaska signed a rule indicating that all wild-caught fish be labeled as organic.  Somehow this initiative to label fish caught in the wild 'clear pure waters of Alaska' (Sen. Stevens) was not finalized and in 2008 the USDA first approved rules for labeling farmed fish Organic.  One of the rules for farmed fish to be considered Organic is that the fish be fed 'sustainable-sourced wild-caught fish.'

Somehow, this seems backwards to us at SafestCatch.Net.

To quote Senator Stevens, "Wild salmon that swim around the waters of Alaska are so pure and clean they are entitled to wear the organic label.'

Senator Murkowski of Alaska as well as Senator Snowe of Maine co-sponsored a bill to 'allow all wild seafood to be certified or labeled organic' in 2003.  Yet, a decade + later we still do not have this in place.  Current law doesn't allow the coveted Organic label to be put on wild fish, yet the aquaculture industry is studying how to raise organic fish in pens [utilizing wild fish feed], "It just doesn't make sense." 

Check back with us regularly, especially in the next months as the Magnuson Steven's Act comes up for reauthorization to see if we can get this addressed so that Wild Fish, not Farmed fish wear the badge of ORGANIC.

Safest Catch dot net, where real fishermen weigh in on 'made for TV' Deadliest Catch, addressing safety at sea and sustainable fisheries.