A small trout farming company in Iceland has become the first in that country to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for any of its operations.
The ASC is a certification and labeling program that guarantees good management practices. Arctic Fish, which operates two farms in northwestern Iceland, received ASC accreditation for its rainbow trout farming, following a successful on-site assessment conducted by SCS Global Services.
“There is good potential for future growth and the good environment in Iceland for sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods. ASC certification of our farming operations helps our small farming operation to get international recognition, which we expect to assist us in the marketing of our nice products,” Arctic Fish CEO Sigurður Pétursson said. “We are very pleased to have the ASC certification and I am proud of my staff for all the preparation and work they have put into the certification process.”
Arctic Fish started in 2011 with a single sea site for farming and recently added a recirculation hatchery, a processing facility and additional farming sites. The company uses naturally occurring warm springs in its hatchery and has access to green electrical energy. It does not use any antibiotics in its fish production process.
Fish farming in Iceland is a small portion of the country’s overall seafood production, accounting for about 4,000 metric tons of salmon and trout in 2015, with totals expected to double in 2016.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Arctic Fish to the ASC program,” ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said. “The certification of the first farm in Iceland is a great example of how producers are meeting the increased market demand for ASC certified products around the world.”
