Mowi Canada West’s Sheep Pass and Cougar Bay salmon farms have been certified as sustainable by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
The milestone means that all of Mowi Canada West’s 28 farms in British Columbia are now ASC-certified. The farms have a combined annual production of 45,000 metric tons of farmed Atlantic salmon.
"This is a fantastic achievement that speaks to our team’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest standards,” Mowi Canada West Managing Director Diane Morrison said in a press release. “To achieve ASC certification, every farm must meet more than 500 measures of fish health, wild salmon protection, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and more.”
The certifications come as part of Mowi’s Blue Revolution Plan, a sustainability strategy that set the target of 100 percent ASC certification across the entire company’s farms.
“The fact that Mowi Canada West is the first country to achieve 100 percent ASC certification proves not only our commitment but also that we have the right people, systems, and ambition to deliver on this commitment,” Mowi Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer Catarina Martins said. “We are well on track.”
Many of Mowi Canada West’s salmon farms are located in First Nations tribal lands, including the Sheep Pass and Cougar Bay farms, which are located in the Klemtu region. Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nation Chief Roxanne Robinson and Councillor Isaiah Robinson issued a statement congratulating the company on the achievement.
“The traditional territories are of significant importance to us and we take who we allow to operate in our territory very seriously,” they said. “It brings us peace of mind to know that Mowi voluntarily strives to reach the highest sustainability standard. It is of upmost importance that we take care of our traditional territories so we can ensure that we will have our lands and waters for our future generations. To know that the company has such high standards is really important to us. Our partnership has evolved over the years, Mowi has supported the community so well that we have strong ties and lifelong friendships.”
Photo courtesy of Mowi Canada West
