Global Salmon Producers Launch Sustainability Report

Global Salmon Producers Launch Sustainability Report

To mark World Environment Day, Marlborough salmon producer NZ King Salmon is tonight releasing in New Zealand the inaugural Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) Sustainability Report on the industry.

The landmark report showcases key environmental and social data across all 14 GSI member companies. It’s the first time a global food sector has collectively reported on sustainability performance indicators in such a transparent manner.

The report was launched globally at the Economist’s World Ocean Summit 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal.

NZ King Salmon is New Zealand’s only member of the GSI. CEO Grant Rosewarne says his company’s involvement in the initiative is firm evidence of its commitment to transparency and community engagement.

“We are steadfast in our resolve to being at the forefront of best practise and innovation in our salmon production. The GSI is an ideal vehicle for benchmarking ourselves against world producers and through it we are able to show how farmed salmon represents a viable solution for economic opportunity, balanced with sustainable operations and improved environmental performance.”

Mr Rosewarne says the report comes on the back of some major international accolades for NZ King Salmon.

“In 2013 we were confirmed as a sustainable salmon producer through achieving the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.

“Then just earlier this year, New Zealand’s marine-farmed salmon was recognised by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s globally respected consumer guide Seafood Watch® as “Green”. That means it’s the best choice for consumers.

“In addition, New Zealand is the first and only fully green salmon producer country in the world as certified by Monterey Bay and Vancouver Aquarium,” Mr Rosewarne says. “Plus, our King salmon species is the first and only ocean-farmed salmon to have achieved the Green/Best Choice rating from Seafood Watch.”

He also points out the company has an active community engagement programme working with local stakeholders including council, marine scientists and environmental campaigners to jointly develop "Best Practice Guidelines" for farming salmon.

Launch

Piers Hart, Global Lead for Aquaculture at World Wildlife Fund says the launch of GSI’s Sustainability Report demonstrates the group’s leadership in creating greater transparency across the aquaculture sector.

“It is a remarkable achievement that they have developed this collective reporting platform, and we strongly encourage other production sectors and platforms to follow suit,” Mr Hart says.

The launch of the Sustainability Report represents a major accomplishment for the GSI, and will be critical for reporting against many of its objectives. The online Sustainability Report includes data on:

• Key environmental and social indicators for each GSI member

• Progress towards GSI’s goal of achieving Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification across all farms by 2020

• The efficiency of farmed salmon as a sustainable and healthy source of protein.

The report provides data for all GSI members in the following areas: fish escapes, fish mortality, antibiotic use, sea lice levels, sea lice treatments, wildlife interactions, use of marine ingredients in feed, compliance, occupational health and safety, and interactions with the local community.

The report represents many months of hard work and collaboration from all GSI companies. Collecting and collating comparable data from such diverse regions where GSI operates has been a challenging process, but over time and with more experience, the GSI will look to show significant progress in the data expressed in the Sustainability Report.

The full report can be viewed here after 8pm 5 June NZST: http://www.globalsalmoninitiative.org/sustainability-report

ABOUT GSI

The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) is a leadership initiative established in 2013 by global farmed salmon producers focused on making significant progress on industry sustainability. Today GSI comprises 14 companies, representing approximately 50% of the global salmon production industry, that are fully committed to realizing a shared goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy food to feed a growing global population, whilst minimizing our environmental footprint, and continuing to improve our social contribution.

GSI member companies are Bakkafrost; Blumar; Cermaq; Compañía Pesquera Camanchaca; Empresas AquaChile; Fjardlax; Grieg Seafood; Huon Aquaculture; Los Fiordos; Marine Harvest; Multiexport Foods SA; New Zealand King Salmon; Norway Royal Salmon; and Ventisqueros. GSI companies have a presence in Canada, Chile, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland and Tasmania, and make significant contributions to the economies of these respective countries.

For further information on GSI please visit:

• Website – www.globalsalmoninitiative.org

• Email – GSI@axon-com.com

• Twitter – @GSI_Salmon

NZ Contact:

Grant Rosewarne, CEO, NZ King Salmon, Mob: (27) 246 0980, email: grant.rosewarne@kingsalmon.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media