Salmon buyers 'discover' Chile on ASC's farm to fork tour
Accreditation organisation the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has closed 2024 with a five-day exploration of southern Chile’s salmon farming industry as part of its Discovery Tour series.
What began in 2018 as a one-time trip to observe responsibly farmed Thai shrimp has evolved into a multi-part educational series guiding major retail and foodservice companies to sites across the globe, where in-demand seafood species like salmon, shrimp and seabass are being raised according to ASC standards.
December’s trip marked the third and final Discovery Tour of 2024 and only the second to Chile in the ASC’s history, following earlier tours in Norway and Greece.
North American representatives from Walmart-owned Sam’s Club (a wholesale warehouse retailer that operates on a similar model to Costco), food service supplier Sysco, cruise line Holland America, and Canadian frozen seafood Canadian processor and marketer High Liner Foods joined ASC for a trip covering the full farm to fork journey of ASC labelled Chilean salmon.
The programme included:
- Farm site visits to Marine Farms and Cermaq
- Nursery and hatchery tour of Salmones Blumar
- Farm site visit to Mowi Chile
- Indoor post-nursery growing station and processing facility tours at Multi X
- ASC farmer workshop, dialogues and more
Chile supports the world’s second-largest salmon industry, after Norway, and supplies more than half of the salmon consumed in the United States. The sector employs more than 70,000 people and has annual exports worth nearly US $4 billion.
Care is crucial
Willem de Bruijn, the ASC’s senior director for markets and communications, ASC, said the rapid increase of seafood farming can lead to pollution, environmental damage and poor working conditions.
“Yet farmed seafood provides livelihoods and affordable protein for billions of people. That’s why it is crucial to ensure seafood is farmed responsibly, with care for people and the planet.”
Sebastian Goycoolea, chief executive of BluGlacier, a marketing company that represents producers Blumar and Ventisqueros in the US, said: “Our ASC certification reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and excellence. Visits like this offer our partners a first-hand look at the care and integrity we bring to every aspect of our work.”
Clean farming
Holland America Line environmental compliance manager Morkel Van Wyk said gaining insight into Chilean fish farming provided the cruise company with a deeper understanding of sustainable seafood practices.
“By witnessing the dedication to sustainability, from clean farming operations to responsible resource management, we can enhance our role as ambassadors for sustainable seafood consumption, ensuring our guests enjoy responsibly sourced seafood while supporting the health of marine ecosystems.”
'Healthier salmon'
Michael Cochran, senior merchant for fresh and frozen seafood for Sam’s Club, said: “Consumer demand for responsibly farmed salmon continues to be very important. ASC certification plays a significant role in the future of sustainable salmon farming.
“It was clear to me visiting multiple salmon farm sites in Chile that ASC certified farms had more visibly active and healthier salmon. The trip reinforced my belief that ASC certified farms are a gateway to improving environmental conditions, helping introduce more sustainable farming practices, and deliver a more responsible aquaculture outcome.”
ASC hasn’t finalised its Discovery Tour agenda for 2025, but said that Scotland is a likely destination, along with Ecuador and India, which are major shrimp producers, and Turkey, a major exporter of seabass, sea bream, and rainbow trout.
