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.
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 seabass are being raised according to the world’s strictest standards by ASC certified farms.
December’s trip marked the third and final Discovery Tour of 2024 and only the second to Chile in the organization’s history, following earlier tours in Norway and Greece. North American 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-labeled 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 and ASC farmer workshop, and dialogues.
“The rapid increase of seafood farming can lead to pollution, environmental damage and poor working conditions,” said Willem de Bruijn, Sr. 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 U.S. 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 U.S.,” noted Sebastian Goycoolea, CEO of 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.”
“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 sourced seafood while supporting the health of marine ecosystems.”
