AquaChile, Australia

Fish Escapes

As a member of GSI we are working to minimize the number of escapes, however despite our best efforts there is the risk of fish escapes as a consequence of bad weather, predation or possible human errors.

The number of fish escapes is shown as the net number following recapture from January to December.

AquaChile, Australia

Fish Mortality

Fish mortality is a key measure used to evaluate fish health during production. There are many methodologies for calculating mortality which may results in slightly different results depending on how they are calculated. Here we show the methodologies as required in each farming region, as well as how we calculate mortality within GSI.

Regional Methodology

No public disclosure of mortality is required. Tasmanian Government to be notified if mortality occurs within a pen > 0.25% for three consecutive days, or if a significant mortality event is reported.

GSI methodology

We have chosen to measure mortality using a 12-month rolling mortality rate. This measure calculates mortality for the last 12 months (January – December) as a proportion of the estimated number of fish in the sea in the last month of the year (adjusted for harvest and mortalities). The benefit of a 12-month rolling rate is that seasonal variations are eliminated and allows for more comparable data across regions and companies.

It is calculated as:

AquaChile, Australia

Antibiotic Use

As an industry, it is our priority to reduce the use of antibiotics, and we hope to show our progress here via the GSI Sustainability Report. As farmers we have a responsibility to ensure a sanitary environment, and protect the health and welfare of the fish under our management. At times, this means we have to use antibiotics to ensure the health of our fish, in the same way we as people use antibiotics to fight off illness. We only ever use antibiotics following the direction of a veterinary prescription, and they are only used under close instruction from certified fish health professionals.

The amount of antibiotics used is calculated as the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used in (grams) per tonne of fish produced (LWE). Antibiotic usage has been calculated per calendar year (January–December).

AquaChile, Australia

Sea Lice Counts

Sea lice are a naturally occurring parasite found throughout the world’s oceans and on many species of fish, and have a detrimental effect on the health and welfare of the infected fish, and can reduce productivity of the farm. Controlling sea lice levels is a priority for all GSI members, apart from those in Australia where there are no sea lice, and New Zealand as they farm a different species not affected by sea lice.

We operate in accordance with national regulation sea lice trigger limits, which set the maximum number of lice per fish throughout the year. These limits vary, based on the type of lice, time of year and jurisdiction, as stated below.

There are currently no sea lice in this region.

AquaChile, Australia

Sea Lice Treatments

If sea lice levels approach the advised limits, fish are treated with licensed medicines, and it is important we measure the amount used.

The amount of treatment used is calculated as the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used (in grams) per tonne of fish produced (LWE).

As there are currently no sea lice in this region, no treatments are used.

AquaChile, Australia

Hydrogen Peroxide Use

As an additional method of sea lice management, the use of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a treatment has been added to the GSI’s Sustainability Report to offer a complete picture of sea lice management practices. Such treatments allow us to ensure optimal fish health, and in the case of H₂O₂, the active ingredient is broken down into water and oxygen.
 

The amount of H₂O₂ used is calculated as the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used (in kg) per tonne of fish produced (LWE). H₂O₂ usage has been calculated per calendar year (January-December).

As there are currently no sea lice in this region, no treatments are used.

AquaChile, Australia

Non-Medicinal Methods

Non-medicinal approaches can also be used to combat sea lice. Many of these approaches are still in development, but it is hoped that over time these can be used more commonly, reducing the need for medicinal treatments.

To find out more about some of these non-medicinal methods used to combat sea lice, please click here.

As there are currently no sea lice in this region, no treatments are used.

AquaChile, Australia

Wildlife Interactions

Protecting the ecosystems in which we operate is integral to how we manage our businesses, and we are committed to reducing negative wildlife interactions through responsible management. Despite our efforts, some wildlife can die as a result of interacting with our farms.

This has been calculated as: Total number of interactions divided by the total number of sites from January to December each year.

AquaChile, Australia

Use of Marine Ingredients in Feed

The ratios, one for fishmeal and another for fish oil, calculate the dependency on forage fisheries through an assessment of the quantity of live fish from small pelagic fisheries required to produce the amount of fishmeal or fish oil needed to produce a unit of farmed salmon.

The calculation uses the ASC’s calculation for forage fish dependency ratio.

AquaChile, Australia

Certified Marine Ingredients

As a member of GSI, we aim to increase transparency on the sustainability sourcing processes for feed ingredients, including marine ingredients.

Defined as the percentage of certified marine ingredients used in total marine ingredients for the calendar year (January – December, 2024).

AquaChile, Australia

ASC Certified Volume

As a member of GSI, we are committed to working towards the highest levels of certification across all our farms. As the most stringent of certification schemes, we use Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) as the framework and reference point to deliver significant improvements in the sustainability of our salmon farming operations and provide the highest quality fish to our customers.

The ASC certification volume here is calculated as the percentage of net harvest biomass (excluding discards) which is ASC-certified of total net harvest biomass (excluding discards).

Data is provided in Gutted Weight Equivalent (GWE) for January 1 – December 31.

AquaChile, Australia

Certifications & Environmental Licenses

As part of the GSI’s ongoing commitment to greater transparency, and continuous improvements in their sustainability performance, GSI members are committed to working towards the highest levels of certification across their farms. Alongside this commitment, each of the members has already achieved, or is working towards a number of additional industry certifications. We view these certifications as a means to benchmark our progress, and also to ensure we are continuing to work to the highest possible standard.

Please click on the link below to find out more about this company’s certifications and environmental licenses:

AquaChile, Australia

Compliance

Salmon farming is a highly regulated industry and all companies must act in accordance with local laws and regulations. Unfortunately at times there are situations which result in non-compliances or breeches of these regulations and remedial action is required.

Here we are reporting on the total number of non-compliances resulting in fines (USD) from January to December.

AquaChile, Australia

Occupational Health & Safety

Health and safety performance is a key measure of a company’s duty of care, and we aim to ensure high levels of occupational health and safety for all employees.

AquaChile, Australia

Community Engagement

AquaChile, Australia

Direct Labor

GSI member company operations cover many regions, and their employees are a diverse group in terms of both culture and their form of work. Nevertheless, all GSI member companies share a common set of core values that promote fair treatment and safe working conditions for all employees across all their operations.

Direct labor is calculated as full-time permanent employees per calendar year.

AquaChile, Australia

R&D Investment

GSI recognizes the importance of investing in R&D as an opportunity to learn new and innovative knowledge and tools that will help improve our farming operations, reduce possible operational risks and ensure continuous progress towards sustainable salmon farming.

Innovation is part of AquaChile’s DNA. We foster a collaborative environment among employees, suppliers, clients, and regional partners by developing and implementing sustainable solutions. Innovation goes beyond improving our production and operations - it’s also about pursuing responsible practices that reduce environmental impact and enhance social well-being.

For these reasons, we are committed to continuous improvement through different actions such as:

Innovation Route is an annual program designed to find solutions to challenges facing the industry and its surrounding environment. It draws on the insight of our own employees—the people who experience daily operations firsthand and know where improvements can be made—creating value across all areas of our organization.

ATC Patagonia Research and Development Centre conducts bioassays under controlled conditions to generate valuable technical information that can be applied to our production processes.

Reproduction and Genetics, we manage the cultivation stage using our own genetic lines and specialized genetics program, incorporating advanced tools such as applied genomics and molecular markers.

Feed Plant at our own facility, we continuously evaluate and innovate raw materials to develop optimal diets that meet the nutritional needs of our fish at every stage of growth. We ensure animal welfare by providing a balanced diet and high-quality nutrition aligned with key welfare principles.