US processor buys steelhead farm
USA: Portland, Oregon based Pacific Seafood Group has purchased a steelhead farm from the Colville Tribe. The farm is located on the Columbia River in Nespelem, Washington, within the Colville Tribal Territory.
According to a Portland Business Journal (PBJ) online article, the purchase marks Pacific Seafood's first entry into finfish aquaculture. According to the article, the farm will be operated using sustainable, all natural and humane practices.
"As the seafood industry evolves, Pacific Seafood remains committed to adapting to the needs of our customers as well as staying on the forefront of sustainable fishery operations," Frank Dulcich, president and CEO of family owned Pacific Seafood, told PBJ. "We believe that a healthy and balanced environment makes for healthy and fast growing fish and we are thrilled to move into the aquaculture arena in this capacity."
Sustainable practices include:
• Fish feed containing all natural ingredients made from sustainable sources. The feed does not contain growth hormones, growth promoting antibiotics, pesticides or herbicides. • Low-density rearing. • Farming in a pathogen-free environment. • Lower transportation and energy costs
The Pacific Seafood Group was established in 1941 as a small retail counter and still servicing customers at this counter. The company added an import department in 1977. Since 1983 the Pacific Seafood Group has expanded all areas of their business with a strategy to grow distribution and to increase processing capabilities to meet the demands of not only our growing distribution customer base, but also meet the needs of our growing customer base throughout the US and the world.
