"
Wal-Mart is encouraging fisheries to adopt policies that ensure customers
will continue to be supplied with a full range of wild-caught fish.

About the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent non-profit
organization set up to promote solutions to the problem of over-fishing.org .

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, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT)
today announced plans to purchase all of its wild-caught fresh and frozen fish
for the North American market from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified
fisheries within the next three to five years.

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All statements in this press release other
than statements of historical fact, including statements which address
our strategy, future operations , future financial position, estimated
sales, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management
and events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates
will occur, are forward-looking statements. The first step toward this
goal will be to have product that currently comes from MSC-certified fisheries
carry the MSC eco-label starting later this year. "The MSC label assures
our customers that they are buying from a retailer that is taking concrete
steps to keep wild-caught fish available to present and future generations.
"This is a big and exciting development , demonstrating a leadership
position," said Rupert Howes, chief executive of the Marine Stewardship
Council.

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Finish products are sold
worldwide through an extensive global distribution and customer
support network.
The MSC program is one of many initiatives that reflect Wal-Mart's
commitment to leadership in business sustainability.

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"
Inge Andreassen, a fourteen-year veteran of the company and Vice
President of Operations of American Seafoods Company since 1996, will
replace Hyde as President.

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S.
This is both environmentally responsible and responsive to our customers. It is hoped that this
commitment to the MSC program will encourage other fisheries into the
assessment process and provide a powerful new route to raise awareness of
sustainable seafood choices with the North American public.

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The words
"will," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "expects,"
"projects," "plans," or similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements . "We have been working on programs
for farm-raised shrimp and salmon and hope to be able to discuss our plans in
those areas in the near future. Further information:
http://www.

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"American Seafoods is a great company.
American Seafoods Company is the subsidiary of American Seafoods
Group that conducts the Company's at-sea pollock and whiting
harvesting and processing operations.com .

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All forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.

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, and Greensboro and Demopolis, Ala.

Wal-Mart Takes Lead on Supporting Sustainable Fisheries

The company's securities are listed on the New
York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. Online
merchandise sales are available at http://www.

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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters , Neighborhood
Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States.walmart.com .

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Hyde will remain actively involved
with the company, primarily as a consultant focusing on strategic
business and regulatory issues, but will no longer hold responsibility
for the company's day-to-day operations .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements.com . Its
distinctive blue eco-label can now be found on more than 300 products sold in
major retail chains in more than 24 countries.

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Mike Hyde to Resign from Position as President and CEO of American Seafoods Company; Hyde to Continue to Provide Strategic Business and Regulatory Advice to th

The company produces a diverse range of fillet, surimi, roe and
block-cut product offerings, made from Alaska Pollock, longline cod,
sea scallops, and U."
"Our MSC certification initiative is only the latest result of Wal-Mart's
efforts to promote and engage in sustainable business practices in the fish
and seafood sector," said Peter Redmond."
In addition to its work with the MSC, Wal -Mart is partnering with
Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund to make improvements such
as reducing harmful environmental impacts and encouraging support for broader
marine eco-system management and protection activities.

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The company also
operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China , Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South
Korea and the United Kingdom.

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"We
are very pleased that he will continue to contribute his skills and
knowledge for the benefit of the company.
Through its business sustainability program, Wal -Mart takes advantage of and
creates opportunities both to influence its own operations and to lead change
in the business world at large.walmartstores.

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farm raised catfish.

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It has been a privilege to
serve in this position for the past seven years, and I am excited to
remain actively involved with the people and business of the company,"
Hyde said.
"Mike's industry and regulatory expertise has played a significant
role in building our business into what it is today," Bodal said. If these suppliers commit to this initiative and succeed
within that timeframe, Wal-Mart will continue to work with them.walmartfacts.

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"We believe it's absolutely essential to take a leadership role in working
with suppliers to ensure that the world's wild fish populations can grow and
replenish themselves," said Peter Redmond, Wal-Mart vice president and
divisional merchandise manager of deli and seafood.

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Business Editors

SEATTLE----American Seafoods Group
and Mike Hyde, President and CEO of its subsidiary, American Seafoods
Company LLC, today jointly announced that he is resigning from his
position effective March 31, 2005.msc.

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"Inge is a well-respected industry veteran who is intimately
knowledgeable in all aspects of our company and its operations," Bodal
said."

About American Seafoods Group

American Seafoods Group is one of the world's leading companies in
the harvesting, at-sea processing, preparation and supply of quality
seafood. "As part of a wider company commitment to sustainable seafood
procurement, Wal-Mart has committed to source, over a number of years, all of
its fresh and frozen wild capture supplies for the North American market from
fisheries certified against the MSC's standard.

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The scope and scale of
the company 's business presents great potential to effect positive change.

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Bernt Bodal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American
Seafoods Group, stressed that Hyde will remain active in the company. They rely
on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to
a number of risks and uncertainties , many of which are outside of the
Company's control and could cause actual results to differ materially
from such statements.
Learn more about Wal-Mart's environmental initiatives is available on
http://www.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. More information about
Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.

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From the ocean to the plate, American Seafoods has
established a global sourcing , selling, marketing and distribution
network bringing quality seafood to consumers worldwide. This initiative is part of
Wal-Mart's continued commitment to offering sustainable products at affordable
prices to its customers.

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"His background and experience will enable the company to move
smoothly through this transition without skipping a beat. The company harvests a variety of fish species and processes
the catch into an array of finished products, both on board its fleet
of state-of-the -art vessels and at its facilities in New Bedford,
Mass.

All Wild-Caught and Frozen Fish Suppliers to be Marine Stewardship Council-
Certified

BENTONVILLE, Ark. The
company currently works with a number of MSC-certified fisheries and is giving
non-certified suppliers three to five years to develop plans and programs to
become certified . As part of its mission to improve the quality
of life for people around the world, Wal-Mart has committed to taking a
leadership position in the areas of climate and renewable energy, waste
reduction and recycling, and the development of sustainable products.