Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
The ASC standard was founded in 2010 by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative. ASC promotes responsibly farmed seafood through its certification and labelling program. Fish farms that meet the ASC´s standards gain the right to sell their products bearing the ASC logo. ASC-certified salmon is a responsible choice, helping the consumer to care for the natural environment and support local communities.Assessment criteria include:
- Biodiversity: Requirement to minimize impacts on the local ecosystem in a number of ways, such as the development and implementation of an impact assessment to protect birds, marine mammals, and sensitive habitats.
- Pollution: Requirement to measure various water parameters (phosphorus, oxygen levels, etc.) at regular intervals, and remain within set limits. Copper release into the water must be minimized and monitored.
- Diseases: Requirements to minimize disease outbreaks. A Fish Health Management Plan detailing steps for biosecurity management must be implemented at the farm. Survival rates must be high.
- Feed: Requirement to adhere to strict limits to minimize the use of wild fish as a feed ingredient. Grieg Seafood has contributed to the development of the new ASC feed standard.
- Social: Requirements based on the core principles of the International Labor Organization (ILO). Engagement of the local community and stakeholders related to each farm is also a requirement. Community meetings where operations, impacts and improvements are discussed and concerns are addressed is a key component.
ASC certifications in Grieg Seafood
Grieg Seafood is targeting 100 percent ASC certification by 2023. If a farm cannot achieve the certification due to a larger biological challenge in that area, it should be compliant on all other assessment criteria by the same year.
Grieg Seafood Finnmark: 17 of 18 eligible farms are certified. The last farm is in assessment/will be assessed as soon as the right time of production is reached.
Grieg Seafood Rogaland: 6 of 11 eligible farms are certified.
Grieg Seafood British Columbia: All 11 eligible farms are certified.
Grieg Seafood Newfoundland: Aims to certify when its seawater sites are eligible for certification.
Grieg Seafood is targeting 100 percent ASC certification by 2023
GLOBALG.A.P
GLOBALG.A.P Global Good Agricultural Practices is a standard for both agriculture and aquaculture. The standard covers food safety, animal welfare, sustainability, employment, and traceability. GlobalG.A.P is particularly important for customers in Europe.
GLOBALG.A.P certifications in Grieg Seafood
GLOBALG.A.P is mainly used in Europe. Grieg Seafood is 100% GLOBALG.A.P certified in all of our Norwegian regions - Finnmark and Rogaland.
Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)
BAP is a standard for aquaculture that covers practices in all production stages of fish farming. The standard covers food safety, environmental performance, social welfare and animal health and welfare. BAP is particularly important for customers in the United States.
BAP certifications in Grieg Seafood
BAP is mainly used in North America. Grieg Seafood is 100 percent BAP certified in British Columbia, our North American region currently delivering to the North American market. Our Newfoundland region is under establishment and is not yet delivering to market.
Harvesting plants
All our our own harvesting plants are certified according to the food safety management certification FSSC 22000.
Other certifications
For certifications pertaining plant-based feed ingredients, read more here. For certifications pertaining marine feed ingredients, read more here.Where relevant, we prefer suppliers that are certified according to a Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI) certification. The majority of relevant suppliers (such as external harvesting plants) are certified accordingly.
