B.C. farmers are first in North America to receive ASC responsible farming certification

The ASC standard is considered the most stringent third-party certification available in Aquaculture. To date, 272 farms worldwide have achieved the standard. Cermaq Canada and Marine Harvest Canada are two of only three companies to have achieved the certification for farms in North America.

June 30, 2016

Salmon farming companies in B.C. are continuing to achieve the high sustainability commitments they have set. There are currently six farms in B.C. certified to the ASC standard with a further five farms undergoing assessment.

The standard was developed through an eight-year dialogue process led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that engaged over 2,000 representatives from the global aquaculture industry, retail and foodservice sector, NGOs, government and scientific community. It is considered the most stringent third-party certification available in Aquaculture.

To date, 272 farms worldwide have achieved the standard. Cermaq Canada and Marine Harvest Canada are two of only three companies to have achieved the certification for farms in North America.

Cermaq Canada recently announced that its Mussel Rock farm, located in Clayoquot Sound on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, has been certified to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) salmon standard. This is the company’s third farm to reach the standard.

“Companies operating in B.C. are committed to world leading practices, and this achievement by Cermaq Canada further exemplifies how seriously that commitment is being taken,” said BCSFA Executive Director, Jeremy Dunn.

The Clayoquot Sound region this farm is located in, is home to 20 salmon farms. Every farm has at least one third-party certification and most have multiple audited certifications including the Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification. The region is also home to North America’s only certified organic Chinook producer, Creative Salmon. The Cermaq sites are also certified under the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association for their partnership agreement with Ahousaht First Nation.

By 2020, B.C. aims to be the first region in the world to be certified by ‘Gold Standard’ environmental programs, which includes having all farm-raised Atlantic salmon ASC certified. B.C. is the first and only salmon farming region to have all of its Atlantic salmon certified by the BAP program.

Learn more about the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association