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A growing number of Scottish salmon farmers are seeking certification to prove their social and environmental credentials; ASC – the leading global certification and labeling program for farmed seafood – has seen a 144 per cent increase in Scottish salmon farms applying for certification in the last year.
Behind this increase is market demand, says ASC CEO Chris Nins:
“Availability of ASC certified salmon products in the UK has increased by 61 per cent in the last year alone, and three quarters of UK consumers associate the ASC label with trust and sustainability. What is clear is that salmon consumers want products that align with their values. They want to know that the fish they’re eating isn’t harming the planet and has been raised with care for workers and communities. And retailers will adhere to the values of their customers. With 16 more farms currently going through the initial audit phase, by this time next year it is possible that the number of Scottish salmon farmers who have achieved ASC certification will double.”
With strong growth in ASC certification among Scottish producers – up 1,000 per cent since 2017 – farmers can meet consumer and retail demand, ensuring that responsibly farmed Scottish salmon remains the salmon of choice for UK buyers. ASC requires farms to be certified to meet the world’s strictest aquaculture standards, the feed they purchase and proof of farming practices responsible for disease prevention, environmental water standards and workers’ rights. If the farm believes they meet these requirements, an independent certification body is sent to perform an initial audit.
Demand for ASC labeled salmon products is growing by 61 per cent year-on-year in the UK. The Scottish salmon farming sector generated £766 million for the nation’s economy in 2021 – 20 per cent more than in 2019 – and could be worth up to £1 billion in a few years, according to industry body Salmon Scotland.
Mowi was the first company in Scotland to receive ASC certification for one of their farms. They now have 30 salmon farms certified or in early audit stages. They were also awarded the ASC Retail Supplier of the Year Award 2022, for the important role they play as part of the wider supply chain.
Scottish Sea Farms and BakkaFrost Scotland are also now on board – three of the former are certified and three of the latter are certified or in early audit stages – leading to a 144 per cent increase in Scottish salmon farms applying for certification in the last year.
ASC standards are central to industry commitments to seek independent verification of their environmental and social performance. In 2013, a group, then representing 70 percent of the global farmed salmon industry, announced their commitment to sustainability as part of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) as a path toward significant change. GSI members have chosen to benchmark their global performance by committing to achieve 100 percent of salmon production to become ASC certified.
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