(British Columbia, CAN – November 18, 2011) – The Aquarium of the Pacific’s Seafood for the Future Program has partnered with Skuna Bay Salmon. Seafood for the Future will work to educate and connect Southern California chefs and consumers to this responsibly raised salmon. “Skuna Bay is delighted to be joining the Aquarium of the Pacific’s ‘Seafood for the Future’ program and formally announce our partnership. Our mission, like Seafood for the Future, is to ensure our growing population can be fed responsibly. We believe our craft farming methods support that and our farmers want to ensure that the same high standards in which our fish are raised are maintained in the partnerships we form. We can never be satisfied with our farming practices. We look forward to engaging with Seafood for the Future and seeking their guidance as we look to get even better at what we do,” said Stewart Hawthorn, Farmer, Skuna Bay.
“Seafood for the Future is proud to announce our partnership with Skuna Bay Salmon. Supporting responsibly farm raised seafood is a critical if we are to allow wild stocks to rebound. Skuna Bay Salmon has not only taken great strides to ensure that they adhere to the most innovative and environmentally responsible salmon farming practices but also incorporate environmental stewardship throughout their operation.” said Melissa Carrasquillo, Seafood for the Future Program Manager.
Seafood for the Future has evaluated the potential environmental impacts of Skuna Bay Salmon’s operations based on the latest scientific data and has concluded that the Skuna Bay Salmon are raised responsibly. Some of the factors that led the program to its decision include: Canada’s extensive Federal and Provincial regulations for aquaculture, use of fish feed sourced from sustainable fisheries that are endorsed by organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council, current fish conversion ratio is 1.25:1, a fish in: fish out ratio approaching 1:1, low stocking densities (98.5% water), innovative solutions for addressing benthic impacts, and fallowing practices. To learn more about Skuna Bay Salmon’s responsible farming operations, visit the Skuna Bay website: skunasalmon.com.
Skuna Bay Salmon will be distributed exclusively by Santa Monica Seafood, a distributor partner of the Seafood for the Future program. About Skuna Bay Salmon Skuna Bay Salmon farms are owned and operated by Grieg Seafoods BC Ltd. The product is raised in an isolated region off the coast of Vancouver Island by a small group of passionate and experienced farmers. Skuna Bay has its own hatching facility and is able to trace its product from the hatchling stage until it reaches the chef. The company ships its fish in recyclable ThermaFresh™ shipping material and minimizes its carbon footprint by shipping its product terrestrially rather than flying it. In addition to its commitment to the environment, Skuna Bay Salmon is committed to local communities that call British Columbia home and is working on a partnership with the First Nations whose territories they operate in. See website for details: skunasalmon.com. About Seafood for the Future Seafood for the Future is the Aquarium of the Pacific’s nonprofit seafood advisory program dedicated to its mission to promote healthy and responsible seafood choices. The program was founded in 2009 by the Aquarium of the Pacific with a generous grant from the Pacific Life Foundation. The program’s efforts have been acknowledged through partnerships with organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) FishWatch and FishChoice. In August 2011, Los Angeles Magazine honored Seafood for the Future with the Earth Changer award. The program promotes transparency in the seafood industry, serves as a conduit of fact-based information on aquaculture and wild capture fisheries to purchasers, chefs and consumers, and forms partnerships with concerned industry players to have the greatest impact on the seafood supply chain. Consumers can find responsibly sourced seafood at Seafood for the Future’s partner restaurants and retailers. See website for details: seafoodforthefuture.org.
Media Contact: SKUNA SALMON Seafood for the Future Dave Mergle Melissa Carrasquillo Marketing Program Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 778.877.6707 562.951.5388