Gold River, BC – The Global Aquaculture Alliance, the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood, has awarded its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification to four additional farms operated by Vancouver Island craft salmon farmers, Skuna Bay Salmon. With a total of eight farms certified, Skuna Bay will now be sourcing all of its craft raised salmon from BAP certified farms.
“We at Skuna Bay are committed to building on our leadership position by maintaining full BAP certification going forward,” said Stewart Hawthorn, Head Farmer, Skuna Bay Salmon.
“Our craft farmers have been tending our salmon using Best Aquaculture Practices’ high standards since the beginning of this year when our first four sites were certified. We are now extremely proud to broaden that certification to include an additional four Skuna Bay farms.”
Skuna Bay have also made a firm commitment to certifying additional farms so that all future Skuna Bay Salmon is raised and harvested from certified farms. Under BAP’s stringent policies, each new Skuna Bay farm of young salmon must be newly certified—and that certification concludes when those salmon are harvested.
“Most importantly, we are committed to meeting and upholding Best Aquaculture Practices sustainability standards in all Skuna Bay Salmon not only now, but in the future through ongoing certification,” said Hawthorn.
To attain certification, each farm is individually and personally inspected by an independent and certified auditor to ensure it meets specific criteria and standards. Best Aquaculture Practices unique and robust standards are developed by a committee of diverse stakeholders including leading progressive environmental and related advocacy organizations.
Skuna Bay Salmon is raised in the ocean by craftsmen farmers using environmentally and socially responsible practices to help meet the growing global demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources. The Global Aquaculture Alliance recognizes that aquaculture is the only sustainable means of increasing seafood supply to meet the food needs of the world’s growing population.
“We saw Global Aquaculture Alliance and Best Aquaculture Practices certification as a natural fit for Skuna Bay. We share the same values and passion for farming and sharing healthful, sustainable salmon,” said Hawthorn.
The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s review process involved an audit of Skuna Bay’s social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare, traceability and biosecurity processes and systems. In addition, the review included 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 all their salmon farms to the prestigious BAP standards demonstrates their leadership in responsible aquaculture and assures the confidence of the marketplace”, said GAA President George Chamberlain. “This full certification will encourage and inspire aquaculturists around the world to seek 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 at our remote sites 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) and off the Sunshine Coast region in British Columbia. 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 Skuna Bay’s quality and protect the salmon. Skuna Bay is delivered fresh to chefs in prime condition through their exclusive distributors, Santa Monica Seafood in Southern California, Las Vegas and Arizona Fortune Fish Company in the Midwest and Seattle Fish in Colorado . Skuna Bay salmon are reared in farms that are owned and operated by Grieg Seafoods BC Ltd.
Source: Skuna Bay Salmon
