Campbell River, BC – The Global Aquaculture Alliance, the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood, has awarded its Best Aquaculture Practices certification to Vancouver Island craft salmon farmers, Skuna Bay Salmon.
“We are incredibly proud to be the first salmon farm in the world to have multiple farms that have achieved this standard and certification.” said Stewart Hawthorn, Managing Director, Skuna Bay Salmon. “Our craftsmen farmers share the same values as The Global Aquaculture Alliance - to provide healthful salmon using environmentally and socially responsible practices to help meet the growing global demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources.”
The Best Aquaculture Practices standards are developed by a committee of diverse stakeholders including leading progressive environmental and related advocacy organizations.
The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s review process involved an audit of Skuna Bay’s social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare and traceability processes and systems and a visit to its farms. Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards for salmon farms incorporate ongoing guidelines and quantitative criteria for veterinary care, nets, and feed content and ratios.
“Skuna Bay’s commitment to certify their salmon farms to the prestigious BAP standards demonstrates their dedication to responsible aquaculture and assures the confidence of the marketplace”, said GAA President George Chamberlain. “Their leadership inspires aquaculturists around the world to strive for this global standard of excellence”.
“Skuna Bay Salmon are raised by craftsmen farmers who use their judgment, experience and passion to monitor the well-being of their salmon every day. Our salmon are harvested and cleaned by hand so they arrive in the chef’s kitchen pristine, firm and ocean-fresh,” said Hawthorn. “Chefs and diners can see and taste the premium quality of Skuna Bay Salmon. With Best Aquaculture Practices certification they also have the assurance that it’s raised and harvested responsibly.”
About BAP Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance that is based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved global performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain -- farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills. BAP certification assures healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. For more information on BAP, visit www.gaalliance.org/bap/.
About Skuna Bay Salmon
Skuna Bay offers a premium selection of craft raised salmon cared for by a small group of experienced and passionate farmers. Dedicated to raising the best fish possible, and never through industrial methods, Skuna Bay rears its salmon in an isolated region called Nootka Sound off the coast of Vancouver Island (and located 14 nautical miles from Skuna Bay). Here, glacier-fed coastal waters, perfect salinity levels and strong tidal currents create an ideal environment for the salmon to reach maturity. Patented innovations in packaging, exclusively Skuna Bay’s to use in its market, and a tamper proof and traceable seal further emphasize the quality and protect the fish, to be delivered fresh to chefs in prime condition through their exclusive distributor, Santa Monica Seafood. Skuna Bay salmon are reared in farms that are owned and operated by Grieg Seafoods BC Ltd.
U.S. MEDIA CONTACTS: BREAD & BUTTER PUBLIC RELATIONS Ali Stanley Katie Conway 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. 213.739.7985 213.739.7985
SKUNA SALMON CONTACTS: Stewart Hawthorn Dave Mergle Farmer Marketing 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. 250 202 8588 604 942 1181