Major French oyster supplier obtains ASC certification

Huitres Favier Earl, on the left bank of the Seudre River in southwestern France, has become the first French farm to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification.

The oyster producer sells between 9 and 10 million oysters annually to Carrefour in France along with buyers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and other European countries.

"The consumption of seafood is high in France and, according to a recent survey by Global Scan, French consumers are ready to change their consumption habits in favor of sustainable alternatives,” said ASC Commercial Director Esther Luiten. “This trend is creating increasing demand for certified responsible aquaculture and French retailers are becoming more and more enthusiastic about the ASC certification.”

The oyster farm, which received a cluster certification for its La Tremblade and Paimpol units, was recognized for its responsible environmental and social practices from Control Union Peru, an independent accredited certifier, after an audit to certify that the farm meets the ASC Bivalve Standards.

“We market our oysters mainly abroad. Our customers are already actively committed to sustainability issues, so it was essential to be able to provide certified responsibly farmed products. The ASC logo brings a positive image to our company and our products. It is obviously an asset for our company,” said Dominique Favier, commercial manager for Huitres Favier Earl.

The farm comprises more than 300,000 meters squared of sea beds and 160,000 square meters of "Claires" (where fresh and sea water blend together), which makes it possible to permanently shelter 15 to 20 million oysters at different stages of rearing, according to ASC.

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