Alaska's commitment to responsible fisheries management and sustainability existed long before anyone ever heard of an eco-label, and thanks to a sense of responsibility that spans generations of Alaskans, this commitment never waivers. When Alaska became a state in 1959, it was written into the constitution that "fish... be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle," making Alaska the only state in the nation with such explicit conservation language as a foundation for resource management. It means that all interests — fisherman, scientists, conservationists and citizens — work together to determine how to responsibly manage our fisheries so that there will be an abundance of wild seafood to harvest now and always.

In many ways it can be said that the seafood industry touches the lives of almost all Alaskans. In fact, fishing and processing employ more people than any other industry in Alaska, encompassing a full 32% of our workforce. As responsible stewards, each and every Alaskan understands the absolute importance of preserving this prized resource for generations to come.

To further verify adherence to the highest of sustainability practices, the majority of Alaska's fisheries have been evaluated using a third-party certification called the FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management certification program. This certification shows that Alaska's fisheries meet the criteria of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the FAO Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries – both are recognized as comprehensive and respected fisheries management guidelines in the world. The FAO Code & Guidelines were created with the participation and input of the world's governments, fishery scientists and conservationists and that means the state's fisheries are assessed against the world's highest and most internationally accepted standard.