Atlantic salmon

Salmo salar

?: Under review How we work out the ratings

What to check for

Location

All areas, All areas, Scotland

Production method

Open net pen, marine

Certification

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Rating summary

Atlantic salmon are farmed in open net pens in the sea. Producing fish in open systems can cause environmental impacts. The ASC standard mitigates many areas of environmental concern, including discharge of effluents, use of chemicals, escapes, disease and parasite interactions. ASC certified salmon is also well managed and management is thought to be fully effective. However, at present, sourcing of marine ingredients is not verified via audit, but the interim feed standard ensures traceability.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated February 2023.

Technical consultation summary

References

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Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. Text by Jones, M. Fisheries and Aquaculture Division [online]. Rome. Updated 2004-11-25. Available at https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/culturedspecies/salmo_salar/en [Accessed 25.01.2023]Hoel, A. and Olsen, E. (2010). Marine Spatial Planning: Norway’s management plans. Available at https://imr.brage.unit.no/imr-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/102586/O0510.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [Accessed on 02.02.2023]Lehwald, M. (2020). Marine Spatial Planning in Iceland: The importance of stakeholder engagement during a Marine Spatial Planning process. Háskólaprent, Reykjavík. Available at https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/36296/1/CMM_Thesis_Mats_Lehwald_2020.pdf [Accessed 24.02.2023]Marine Harvest (2022). Salmon Farming Industry Handbook 2022. Available at https://mowi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-Salmon-Industry-Handbook-1.pdf [Accessed 11.01.2023]Martsikalis, P., Gkafas, G., Palaiokostas, C. and Exadactylos, A. (2019). 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An extensive common-garden study with domesticated and wild Atlantic salmon in the wild reveals impact on smolt production and shifts in fitness traits. Evolutionary Applications, Volume 12, Issue 5, pp.1001-1016. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12777 [Accessed 16.01.2023]World Organisation for Animal Health Founded as OIE (2022). Aquatic Animal Health Code (2022). Available at https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/aquatic-code-online-access/ [Accessed 30.01.2023]