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Tasmanian salmon producer Tassal achieves world first with WWF sustainability certification
A Tasmanian salmon producer has been recognised for its world leading sustainable fish farming practices.
Tassal had to spend millions upgrading infrastructure to meet WWF's strict guidelines.
While other producers have secured the certification for part of their operation, Tassal is the first to receive blanket coverage for every aspect of a fish-farming venture.
Tassal was also the first Australian company to achieve the certification which recognises responsibly farmed seafood.
The Stewardship Council was founded in 2010 and in order to meet the standards set, Tassal removed its copper treated nets and developed a new fish health department.
Standards met for certification
- Reducing reliance of fish meal and oil in feed
- Removing the last copper treated nets
- Development of a new fish health department
- Creation of a full ASC dashboard which reports a number of parameters in real time
The company also spent millions of dollars upgrading its infrastructure and changing its fish food to make it more environmentally friendly.
Peter Trott from the WWF said it was a significant achievement that other producers should strive for.
"It goes without saying, we'd love to see the other salmon producers meet Tassal's aspirations here and we look forward to the day where all our salmon is ASC certified," he said.
"Experts in aquaculture as well as experts in social science, because there is a community element to this certification process.
"They fly in to Tasmania and they go to each and every one of these sites and they interview each and every farmer who is responsible for one of these site."
Tassal encourages other companies to follow its lead
Tassal accounts for more than 50 per cent of the domestic salmon market.
Head of Sustainability at Tassal Linda Sams said Australia was expected to import more than 1,000,000 tonnes of seafood by 2020.
"[That's] incredible considering the country's potential to farm our own stocks locally," she said.
"There is a clear opportunity here for local growth to meet the demand for responsibly produced salmon."
The salmon producer's CEO, Mark Ryan, said the company aspired to be a world leader in sustainability.
"Our partnership with WWF-Australia has been an important part of working practically to achieve and maintain the highest levels of certification," he said.
"To achieve ASC accreditation in all of our sites, ahead of our 2015 target, is something that we are extremely proud of."
Source : ABC News November 15th 2014
