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The Global Salmon Initiative Publishes Second Annual Sustainability Report at Seafood EXPO Global 2016

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Alongside the Seafood Expo Global 2016, the Global Salmon Initiative today published its annual Sustainability Report. The launch of the initiative’s second report signifies the group’s ongoing commitment to improved industry transparenc yand greater long-term sustainability for the salmon farming sector

Brussels, Belgium – April 28, 2016, 09:00 CET: This year’s Sustainability Report is the second published by the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) leadership group, which now features 3 years’ worth of data for 2013, 2014 and 2015, from all 12 GSI salmon farming member companies. The report covers 14 key environmental and social sustainability indicators, including three new indicators added this year.

The GSI members are committed to having 100% of their salmon farms certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Standard by 2020; as a measure of overall sustainability, the group are using the standard as a reference point for their progress. The GSI report showcases that there are now over 70 GSI salmon farms certified by the ASC, and over 35 farms currently under assessment, a significant increase since the 9 certified in 2015 – and a strong signal of the group’s commitment to greater industry sustainability.

“The publication of the GSI’s annual Sustainability Report means we are routinely benchmarking our performance both as individual companies, and as an industry sector. The report both acts as a reference point for our success but also continuously encourages us to look for new approaches to enhance our sustainability performance,” said Per Grieg, GSI Co-Chair and Chairman of the Board, Grieg Seafood ASA. “As we review our progress and continue to look for ways to develop, we, the GSI, see cooperation as the main driver behind making these improvements on a greater scale and at an accelerated pace”.

The launch of the second report allows the public access via the Global Salmon Initiative website to review and track the progress of each company over the past 3 years.

“Significant change takes time, and, while we are pleased to see movement in the right direction, as an industry, we know there are still challenges we must face and that a lot more work can be done,” said Sady Delgado, GSI Co-Chair and CEO of Los Fiordos. “However, by sharing this information in such a transparent manner we hope to reinforce our message to stakeholders and customers that we see improved transparency and sustainability as critical elements of our future, and are committed to making these changes our highest priority.”

The GSI’s Sustainability Report is the first industry-wide report of its kind and sets transparency at an unprecedented level within the food sector. As global human populations rise and demand for protein sources continues to increase, consumers today are considering a number of factors when making purchasing decisions, including sustainability. For this reason, the GSI report also includes key production information for the five main sources of animal protein – salmon, chicken, beef, lamb and pork – demonstrating that farmed salmon offers one of the most sustainable sources of protein available.

The report provides data across the following areas: fish escapes; fish mortality; antibiotic use; sea lice counts; sea lice treatments; non-medicinal methods; wildlife interactions; use of marine ingredients in feed; certifications and environmental licenses; compliance; occupational health and safety; interactions with the local community; direct labor; and R&D investment.

GSI’s annual Sustainability Report is one element of the group’s work that supports its mission of improving the industry’s sustainability performance and reinforces its continuing efforts in the following focus areas:

  • Identifying alternative sources of sustainable fish oil replacements to support the long-term future of the industry
  • Working towards 100% of GSI salmon farms being ASC certified by 2020
  • Improving fish health through accelerating developments in biosecurity management

The full Sustainability Report and more information on the work of the GSI can be found at their website: https://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 SA; 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.

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

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Sophie Ryan
AXON
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Ralph Sutton
AXON
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