US shellfish first
The largest shellfish producer in the US has achieved ASC certification for its oyster farms.
Washington State-based Taylor Shellfish Farms has become the first US grower to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, it was announced at Seafood Expo North America yesterday.
The company also produces Manila clams, Mediterranean mussels and geoduck for local, national and international markets. It has almost 500 employees and 11,000 acres of tidelands along the Washington coast and British Columbia. They also operate additional hatchery and nursery facilities in Hawaii and California, a shellfish distribution business in Hong Kong, and are partners growing Fiji Pearls with J Hunter Pearls Fiji, Ltd.
“Taylor Shellfish Farms is dedicated to providing our customers with the freshest, highest quality shellfish available and doing so in ways that respect the environment, our communities and the people who work for us,” said Bill Taylor, CEO at Taylor Shellfish.
“We believe the ASC to be the gold standard for assessing shellfish farm performance, and we are very gratified to have completed the work to become the first farm in the US to achieve this certification.”
“This achievement distinguishes Taylor Shellfish as an innovator in the seafood market and is proof of their strong commitment to responsible farming and good social practices,” said Chris Ninnes, CEO of the ASC.
