Open Blue, a Panama City, Panama-based aquaculture firm specializing in cobia, has earned Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification following a successful audit in December 2017.
The milestone is significant as Open Blue is the first aquaculture firm to earn ASC certification for cobia farming, according to the company.
“Our innovative approach is to raise and harvest fish miles offshore in their natural ocean habitat in a responsible and sustainable way that honors and protects our sensitive ocean ecosystems and respects the workers and the communities around us,” Open Blue CEO Chris Perry said in a press release.
Open Blue operates its proprietary SeaStations in the Caribbean Sea, 12 kilometers off the coast of Panama. Its cages are fully submerged at depths of up to 100 feet.
“This results in a healthy fish that is naturally high in protein providing 2500mg of total omega-3 content at levels higher than farmed Atlantic salmon,” the company said in a release.
In addition to its headquarters in Panama City, the company has offices in Miami and Los Angeles, U.S.A., as well as in Nova Scotia, Canada and throughout Europe. Open Blue has achieved several key standards successfully completing audits for GlobalG.A.P., Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP), British Retail Consortium (BRC), ISO 901 and Friend of the Sea.
Guy Pizzuti, seafood director for Publix Super Markets, complimented the company on its sustainability efforts.
“As we move forward with aquaculture as the future of seafood, promoting the sustainability of aquaculture is a critical component to gaining customer acceptance,” Pizzuti said. “Publix applauds and congratulates Open Blue for achieving ASC certification and leading the way in sustainable aquaculture. We look forward to continuing our work with Open Blue.”
