Port Hardy – In an effort to boost its marketability and assuage the concerns of critics. B.C.’s largest producer of farmed salmon is embarking on an effort to secure a coveted certification from the greenest of the environmental stewardship organizations.
Ian Roberts, director of communications for Marine Harvest Canada, told the local chapter of Rotary Club last week that Marine Harvest currently possesses a three-star certification in the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices, a distinction that appears on packages of its Sterling brand Atlantic salmon. “The problem is, when you go to the grocery store, what does that logo mean?’ he said. “People don’t recognize that logo”
So Marine Harvest is trying to raise its profile by capturing the panda.
The newest certification and perhaps, the most difficult to achieve, according to Roberts - is the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, backed by the World Wildlife Federation and its distinctive panda bear logo.
“This was brought together by WWF – not the wrestlers, but the panda bear.” Roberts told Rotarians. “When we talk about the recognizable logo, the panda bear has influence worldwide. Once you certify to this standard, you will be able to use that panda bear on your product. But it’s very, very strict
ASC auditors will arrive here in late April to begin a seven-day audit of one of Marine Harvest’s sites near Port Hardy. Among the key requirements for the certification are replacement nets, a zero-kill policy, limited medical treatment, negligible escapes, social awareness, effluent control and sea-lice treatments. Without tacitly acknowledging the kinds of degradation alleged by environmentalist opposed to open net-pen salmon farming, Roberts admitted several of those concerns have been addressed by steps taken in recent years by Marine Harvest.
High-density polyethylene netting is replacing copper-dipped nylon nets, which led to copper flakes settling on the sea floor. The new nets prevent attacks by predators like sea lions which, Roberts admitted, had previously been killed by employees to protect the farmed fish.
Marine Harvest has also been introducing protein sources other than fish meal as feed, leading to the company becoming a net fish protein producer beginning in 2010. The company also achieved a license to utilize a new sea lice treatment at a site near Klemtu. The product, essentially hydrogen peroxide, may ultimately replace the brand-name mediation Slice which has been used to control infestations.
“When it returns to water, it’s just water and oxygen.” said Roberts. “it’s a non-medicinal, natural kind of product that we can use now.”
More work will be needed for the ASC certification, Roberts said Marine Harvest must address effluent treatment, particularly at it hatchery facilities, and continue to limit use of antibiotics.
