Raising the Bar: The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) Releases Third Annual Sustainability Report

Brussels, Belgium – April 26, 2017, 09:00 CET: The 2016 Sustainability Report published today by the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) features 4 years’ worth of data from all 12 GSI salmon farming member companies. Using the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Salmon Standard as a framework, the report documents the GSI members’ environmental and social performance across 14 key sustainability indicators, and highlights improvements in responsible business practices. Continuing to raise the bar in industry transparency, this year’s report is also the first from the GSI leadership group to include data verified by independent auditors, providing additional credibility and reassurance for stakeholders.

Highlights from the 2016 Sustainability Report include:

• Nearly one-quarter of all GSI farms now ASC certified – a 60% increase from 2015
• Overall preferential environmental performance of farmed salmon when compared to other livestock sectors on indicators such as carbon footprint, energy retention and protein retention
• Continuing improvements in the responsible use of feed ingredients, with the average feed conversion ratio for farmed salmon now at 1.3:1
• GSI members employ almost 20,000 people across small and rural communities globally
• Focus on ongoing positive social impact through meaningful interactions with local communities
• Move towards greater use of innovative and holistic approaches to disease management

Piers Hart, Global Head of Aquaculture at WWF commented, “We have closely followed the work of the GSI for a number of years now, and are pleased to see further significant progress towards the initiative´s goal of achieving 100% ASC certified farmed salmon by 2020. Setting ambitious sustainability goals remains a crucial factor for every individual company. However, sector-wide transformation can only happen through collective sustainability initiatives such as the GSI, which represents almost 50% of the global salmon industry. That´s why we call upon all farmed salmon producers to become ASC certified, either individually or through GSI membership. We also hope it will be an incentive for retailers worldwide to continue to offer their consumers ASC certified salmon”.

The GSI Sustainability Report also demonstrates the preferable environmental performance of farmed salmon when compared to other protein sectors – such as chicken, beef and pork – including its low, and decreasing, feed conversion ratio (the lower this ratio, the more efficient an animal is at retaining the protein and energy from feed and converting it into food for humans), and low carbon footprint.

“We want to use our combined knowledge and global reach to raise the bar when it comes to environmental and social performance not only in the farmed sector, but across the food industry as a whole”, said Per Grieg, GSI Co-Chair and Chairman of the Board, Grieg Seafood ASA. “We want to lead by example, and demonstrate to other companies, and other sectors, that improving sustainability is a pre-competitive issue. What the GSI Sustainability Report demonstrates is that, through greater transparency and greater cooperation, it is possible to achieve change at scale which is good for the environment, and good for business”.

To view the GSI Sustainability Report and more information on the work of the GSI, please visit our website at: globalsalmoninitiative.org/en/sustainability-report/

ABOUT GSI

The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) is a leadership initiative established in 2013 by global farmed salmon producers focused on making significant progress on industry sustainability. Today, GSI comprises 12 companies – representing approximately 50% of the global salmon production industry – that are fully committed to realizing a shared goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy food to feed a growing global population, whilst minimizing our environmental footprint, and continuing to improve our social contribution.

GSI member companies are Bakkafrost; Blumar; Cermaq; Compañía Pesquera Camanchaca; Empresas AquaChile; Grieg Seafood ASA; Huon Aquaculture; Los Fiordos; Marine Harvest; Multiexport Foods S.A.; New Zealand King Salmon; and Ventisqueros. GSI companies have a presence in Australia, Canada, Chile, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK, and make significant contributions to the economies of these respective countries.

In addition, the GSI also has a number of Associate Members in both the pharmaceutical and feed industries, including Benchmark Holdings plc; BioMar; Cargill; Elanco; Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health; PHARMAQ; Salmofood; and Skretting.

For further information on the GSI, please visit or contact us at:

• Website – globalsalmoninitiative.org
• Email GSI Secretariat – GSI@axon-com.com
• Twitter – @GSI_Salmon

Media contacts:

Sophie Ryan
AXON
+1 604 506 8414
sryan@axon-com.com

Cameron Donald
AXON
+ 44 (0)7710 388 627
cdonald@axon-com.com