December 18, 2024 - The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) closed 2024 with a five-day exploration of Southern Chile's salmon farming industry during the final leg of its ASC Discovery Tour, December 2-6, 2024.
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| Discovery Tour attendees visit Cermaq farm site |
What began in 2018 as a one-time trip to observe responsibly farmed Thai Shrimp has evolved into a multi-part educational 'ASC Discovery Tour' series guiding major retail and foodservice companies to unique sites across the globe, where in-demand seafood species like salmon, shrimp and sea bass are being raised according to the world's strictest standards by ASC certified farms.
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December's trip marked the third and final Discovery Tour of 2024 and only the second to Chile in the organisation's history, following earlier tours in Norway and Greece. North America representatives from Sam's Club, Sysco, Holland America and High Liner Foods joined ASC amid a backdrop of snow-capped volcanos for an action-packed agenda covering the full farm to fork journey of ASC labelled Chilean salmon, including:
- Farm site visits to Marine Farms and Cermaq
- Nursery and hatchery tour of Salmones Blumar
- Farm site visit to Mowi Chile
- Indoor post-nursery grow station and processing facility tours at Multi X
- ASC farmer workshop, dialogues and more
As seafood production increases, so do risks
"The rapid increase of seafood farming can lead to pollution, environmental damage and poor working conditions," said Willem de Bruijn, Senior Director, Markets and Communications, ASC. "Yet farmed seafood provides livelihoods and affordable protein for billions of people. That's why it is crucial to ensure seafood is farmed responsibly, with care for people and the planet."
Chile supports one of the world's largest salmon industries, supplying almost a third of all farmed salmon and over half to the US alone. In an industry that employs over 70,000 people with annual exports near $4 billion, it is critical to demonstrate that environmentally sustainable and socially responsible farming practices can still be done. Not all farmed seafood is equal and the Discovery Tour experience showcased the dedication and care that ASC certified farms expend to meet ASC's rigorous Salmon Standard.
"At BluGlacier, we uphold the highest standards in both our farming practices and community efforts, proudly representing Blumar and Ventisqueros in the US" notes Sebastian Goycoolea, CEO, BluGlacier. "Our ASC certification reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and excellence. Visits like this offer our partners a firsthand look at the care and integrity we bring to every aspect of our work."
Providing stakeholders a front row seat
"The ASC's commitment to responsible fish farming has significantly advanced salmon aquaculture in Chile," said Morkel Van Wyk, Fleet Manager, GEPD Environmental Compliance, Holland America Line. "Gaining insight into Chilean fish farming provides Holland America Line with a deeper understanding of sustainable seafood practices. By witnessing the dedication to sustainability, from clean farming operations to responsible resource management, we can enhance our role as ambassadors for sustainable seafood consumption, ensuring our guests enjoy responsibly sources seafood while supporting the health of marine ecosystems."
"Consumer demand for responsibly farmed salmon continues to be very important. ASC certification pays a significant role in the future of sustainable salmon farming." adds Michael Cochran, Senior Merchant - Fresh & Frozen Seafood, Sam's Club. "It was clear to me visiting multiple salmon farm sites in Chile that ASC certified farms are a gateway to improving environmental condition, helping introduce more sustainable farming practices, and deliver a more responsible aquaculture outcome."
The evolution of ASC Discovery Tours
Initially a North American endeavour, the ASC Discovery Tours have since opened to global attendance, with June and September's tours welcoming retailers from Switzerland, Belgium, France, Korea, the UK, US and Canada. Demonstrating demand for ASC products in major seafood markets to producers, farming communities and local organisation has become a singular opportunity to increase the production of responsibly farmed, ASC labeled products.
The Discovery Tours' success has spurred the addition of new locations and species each year, with plans to continue innovating and expanding the Tour's scope in 2025. ASC will likely touch down in Ecuador, In
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