In a letter to WalMart, Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell urged the company to reconsider the company's decision to discontinue purchasing salmon from sources that lack certification as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Parnell said to WalMart CEO and president Michael Duke, “Although your commitment to source only MSC seafood may have been sensible when first declared back in 2006, that policy is now sorely dated and is serving only to deprive your customers of high quality products produced in America, and forcing your company to source salmon from less sustainable fisheries in foreign nations.”

Several of Alaska’s seafood processors have abandoned their affiliation with the Marine Stewardship Council because of their concerns that the council is not able to maintain a consistant standard definition of sustainable management. The processing companies also cited their concerns over “Brand Erosion,” and that the council has a monopolizing influence that undermines state and federal governance of the fisheries.

The seafood industry is the largest private sector employer in the state of Alaska, providing approximately 70,000 jobs annually.

Parnell continued in his letter to Duke, saying, “I encourage you to reconsider ways you can help Alaskan processors continue to bring the best frozen wild salmon in the world to consumers by adjusting your evaluations and Sustainability Index to reflect the real-world quality of our salmon products and responsible, sustainable salmon management program.”

Parnell’s letter to WalMart can be read here.