Salmon from the Westfjords of Iceland is ASC certified

Icelandic salmon farmers Arnarlax and Arctic Sea Farm have achieved Aquaculture Stewardship Certification (ASC), one of the most stringent environmental certifications in world aquaculture. This means that all salmon harvested from the Icelandic Westfjords in 2019 will be ASC certified. Both companies operate at locations in fjords on the Westfjord‘s peninsula of Iceland.

– We are very pleased to receive ASC certification. This underlines our commitment to raise our salmon and run our business in a sustainable and responsible way, says CEO of Arnarlax, Kristian Matthiasson.

The ASC standard has been developed in cooperation between the aquaculture industry and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). ASC certified farms commit themselves to reducing the impact on local ecosystems in various ways, often over and above what is required by local laws and regulations.

While Arnarlax was notified of its first ASC certification before Christmas, neighbouring operator Arctic Sea Farm recently received re-certification which they have held for the last three years.

This means that all farmed salmon harvested from the Iceland‘s Westfjords in 2019 will be ASC certified. Between them, the two companies harvested 6,670 tonnes of salmon in 2018.

– Achieving ASC status has value for us both because we have environmentally focused customers, but also because the certification process stretches us to stay ahead of the game in terms of sustainability, comments Stein Ove Tveiten, CEO of Arctic Sea Farm.

ASC certified farms commit themselves to reducing the impact on local ecosystems in various ways, such as developing and implementing risk assessments to protect birds, marine mammals and vulnerable habitats. Emphasis is placed on protecting the ecology of the ocean and minimizing the likelihood of fish escaping. A detailed record of wildlife needs must be kept and that information must be made public.

The audit of Arnarlax farms has been carried about by the certification firm bio.inspecta Switzerland.

– We are pleased to confirm that the operations of Arnarlax in Haganes and Steinanes are in accordance with the ASC Farm salmon standard audited and certified. As an ASC certificate holder, Arnarlax can claim that its aquaculture products are the result of “Responsible and sustainable Aquaculture Farming”, says Roger Benz, Head of Quality management at bio.inspecta.