Salmon farmers reach new certification milestones

B.C. SALMON FARMERS ACHIEVE FURTHER CERTIFICATION MILESTONES

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – Salmon farmers in British Columbia continue to work towards meeting the requirements of stringent third-party environmental certification programs. Today, another milestone has been reached in B.C., as Marine Harvest Canada has become just the second salmon farming company in the world to achieve four-star Global Aquaculture Alliance - Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) status. The four-star status has only been available since September 2014 when the introduction of the BAP hatchery standards for finfish, crustaceans, and mollusks were completed. MHC’s Dalrymple freshwater hatchery in Campbell River is now a BAP certified hatchery, earning the new certification.

“Our members are working hard to have the most environmentally responsible farming practices in the world, and have committed meeting the requirements of ‘Gold Standard’ environmental programs by 2020,” said BCSFA Executive Director Jeremy Dunn. “The four-star BAP certification by Marine Harvest Canada further demonstrates this commitment and we look forward to achieving more important milestones along the way.”

Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain -- farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills -- that assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. BAP certification is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance.

B.C. is the first and only salmon farming region to have all of its Atlantic salmon certified by the Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices program. The province is also home to North America’s only company growing Certified Organic Chinook salmon, as well as North America’s only salmon farm certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Today, over 50% of the world’s seafood is farmed, with projections showing this figure will explode to 75% in just 15 years.

About the BC Salmon Farmers Association:

B.C. salmon farmers grow 58% of all salmon raised in Canada and account for 60% of the total landed value of seafood in British Columbia, generating more than $1.14-billion towards the provincial economy. The BCSFA represents the province’s vibrant and diversified salmon aquaculture sector, inclusive of companies raising salmon, as well as the businesses that proudly provide services and supplies.

For more information visit BCSalmonFarmers.ca

For more information:

Sabrina Santoro
Sabrina@bcsalmonfarmers.ca
604.202.4417