Mowi completes ASC certification for all BC farms
All 28 of Mowi’s salmon farms in British Columbia, Canada are now certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, the company has announced.
The Sheep Pass and Cougar Bay farms in the Klemtu region were the last two pieces in the ASC jigsaw for Mowi Canada West and were certified this month.
“This is a fantastic achievement that speaks to our team’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest standards,” said Mowi Canada West managing director Diane Morrison.
“To achieve ASC certification, every farm must meet more than 500 measures of fish health, wild salmon protection, environmental stewardship, social responsibility and more. It really is a tremendous accomplishment.”
‘Peace of mind’
Chief Roxanne Robinson and Councillor Isaiah Robinson of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, in whose territory the farms are located, said: “The traditional territories are of significant importance to us and we take who we allow to operate in our territory very seriously.
“It brings us peace of mind to know that Mowi voluntarily strives to reach the highest sustainability standard.”
Mowi regards ASC certification as the gold standard for salmon farms and is pursuing ASC approval for all of its sites worldwide.
Commitment
Catarina Martins, Mowi’s chief technology and sustainability officer, said achieving 100% ASC certification was a significant goal within the company’s Blue Revolution plan.
“The fact that Canada West is the first country to achieve 100% ASC certification proves not only our commitment but also that we have the right people, systems, and ambition to deliver on this commitment. We are well on track,” said the executive.
Mowi’s farms in Scotland were unable to achieve MSC certification because of a rule banning the use of smolts raised in freshwater lochs, where Mowi Scotland nurtures around half of its juvenile fish. That rule has since been changed and Scottish sites have begun achieving ASC approvals.
