The 100th salmon farm belonging to a member of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) has achieved Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. As a result, the equivalent of 20 percent of all member farms are now certified to the standard, the GSI has announced.
The first GSI farm was awarded ASC certification in 2014. Since then, 10 farms certified in its first year of existence, 45 farms received certification in 2015, and a further 45 farms have been certified so far in 2016. GSI members now have ASC-certified farms across six farming regions, including 48 farms in Norway, 33 in Chile, 12 in Canada, three in Ireland, two in Scotland and two in the Faroe Islands, with a further 29 currently under assessment.
“The GSI members are leading the way with certifications, and today’s announcement sends a significant signal that they are committed on their journey towards improved sustainability,” said Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC.
In order to achieve ASC certification, farms must meet the standard’s 152 criteria, which support responsible aquaculture practices that minimize environmental and social impact. Through achieving the ASC standard, certified farms deliver a cleaner seabed, cleaner water and healthier fish, while also ensuring social responsibility.
“When we signed up to GSI and made our commitment to ASC certification, we knew it was going to be a very tough challenge, and we weren’t exactly sure how we were going to get there. However, through collective knowledge and shared problem solving, we are starting to see progress with more and more farms achieving certification,” said Alf-Helge Aarskog, CEO of Marine Harvest ASA. “We have made good progress so far, but bigger challenges lie ahead of us as we look at regions where it will be tougher to achieve certification. But within GSI we support each other by sharing experience and advice, and now that we have the ball rolling we feel confident that the certifications will continue."
Established in 2013, GSI today comprises 12 companies that represent approximately 50 percent of global salmon production: Bakkafrost, Blumar, Cermaq, Compañía Pesquera Camanchaca, Empresas AquaChile, Grieg Seafood ASA, Huon Aquaculture, Los Fiordos, Marine Harvest, Multiexport Foods SA, New Zealand King Salmon and Ventisqueros.
