International Aquafeed Directory 2023-24

18
AQUACULTURE ASC AQUACULTURE
Great increase in Scottish salmon
farms seeking ASC certification
An increasing number of Scottish
salmon farmers are seeking certification
to prove their social and environmental
credentials. In 2022, the ASC saw a
144% increase in Scottish salmon farms
applying for certification in comparison
with the previous year.
It follows a larger trend in market
demand in the UK. Demand for ASC
labelled salmon products is growing at
61% year-on-year in the UK. The
Scottish salmon farming sector
generated £766 million for the nation’s
economy in 2021 – up 20% from 2019
– and could be worth up to £1 billion in
a few years, according to industry body
Salmon Scotland.
With strong continued growth of ASC
certification amongst Scottish producers
– an increase of 1000% since 2017 –
farmers can meet consumer and retail
demand, ensuring that responsibly
farmed Scottish salmon remains the
salmon of choice for shoppers in the UK.
Mowi was the first company in
Scotland to achieve ASC certification for
one of their farms. In the end of 2022,
they had 30 salmon farms certified or in
initial audit stage. For the important role
they play as part of the wider supply
chain, they were also awarded the ASC
Retail Supplier of the Year Award 2022.
Scottish Sea Farms and Bakkafrost
Scotland were also on board – in the end
of 2022 the former had three farms
ASC’s first Annual Report was published in 2022.
Seabass, Seabream farm, Cromaris, Croatia
certified and the latter three farms
certified or in initial audit stage – leading
to the 144% increase in Scottish salmon
farms applying for certification last year.
The ASC standards have been central
to industry commitments to seeking
independent verification of their
environmental and social performance.
In 2013 a group, then representing 70%
of the global farmed salmon industry,
announced their commitment to
sustainability as a path towards
significant change as part of the Global
Salmon Initiative (GSI). GSI members
have chosen to benchmark their global
performance by committing to achieving
100% of salmon production becoming
ASC certified.
ASCÊs first Annual Report
Last year, the ASC released its first
Annual Report “Transforming
Aquaculture”, the report looked back on
2021 and reflected on the 10 years since
the first aquaculture farm achieved ASC
certification.
In 2021, ASC’s efforts resulted in
continued programme growth with
activities dedicated to improving the
accessibility of ASC certification,
maintaining presence in existing markets
and expanding to new ones, and putting
over 20,000 ASC certified products in
consumers’ hands.
ASC currently operates 11 speciesspecific
farm standards and a joint
ASC-MSC seaweed standard, globally
applicable where relevant fish and algae
are farmed. There are around 2,000
certified farm sites covering 49 species.
In 2021, ASC experienced a 20%
growth in the number of certified farms
sites from the previous year, increasing
the global production of seafood that
meets the social responsibility and
environmental sustainability requirements
of ASC standards to over 2.5
million tonnes. In the same year, ASC
certified farms made 2,780 improvements
across the 11 standards in the
areas of environmental performance
(1,800), social responsibility (893) and
legal compliance (87).
Looking ahead to future developments,
the ASC Feed Standard will
address impacts beyond the farm,
bringing sustainability requirements into
feed mills that manufacture aquafeed, as
well as the ingredient suppliers and the
raw materials producers.
By the end of 2021, the availability of
ASC-certified products grew by 10%
compared to the previous year, bringing
over 20,000 ASC labelled products to
consumers, with over 275,000 tonnes
sold. Global retail markets continued to
demonstrate a strong preference for
salmon and shrimp, which account for
70% of ASC labelled product weight.
Moreover, demand is rising for other
important regional species, such as
trout, seabass, and seabream. There was
strong uptake of ASC labelled products
in Southern European markets and an
increased strategic focus on bringing key
species to US and UK markets.
In 2021, ASC hosted events, competitions,
promotions and tasting sessions,
delivering educational and entertaining
campaigns to engage consumers in
collaboration with over 230 commercial
and non-commercial partners. Our
partners have included retailers, fish
suppliers, fishmongers, top brands,
restaurants and food chains, NGOs,
zoos, aquaria, and museums.
In 2021, 67 assessments of
Conformity Assessment Body (CAB)
performance were conducted covering
92% of defined target areas and to
address incidents. The number of CABs
in the ASC programme grew to 14,
representing 184 auditors worldwide
qualified to evaluate farms against ASC’s
strict environmental and social
requirements.
INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED DIRECTORY 2023/24