Atlantic salmon

Salmo salar

?: Under review How we work out the ratings

What to check for

Location

All areas, Scotland

Production method

Open net pen, marine

Certification

Global Seafood Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices (GAA BAP) 3*
Global Seafood Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices (GAA BAP) 4*

Rating summary

Atlantic salmon are farmed in open net pens in the sea. Producing fish in open systems can cause environmental impacts. The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standard addresses many areas of environmental concern including discharge of effluents, use of chemicals, escapes, disease and parasite interactions. However, lethal control of predators is permitted. There are also criteria in place covering welfare and humane slaughter. Criteria on responsible feed sourcing requires it to be traceable, however, sourcing of marine ingredients is not verified via audit and BAP certified salmon can use a high quantity of wild caught fish in their diet. Due to the lack of data in relation to some of the environmental impacts of salmon farming, MCS is advocating a halt in industry expansion using existing practices until more evidence is available. 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

Best Aquaculture Practices. 2016. BAP Salmon Farm Standards – Issue 2 Revision 3 – October 2016. Available at https://www.bapcertification.org/Downloadables/pdf/PI%20-%20Standard%20-%20Salmon%20Farm%20-%20Issue%202.3%20-%2013-October-2016-GSA.pdf [Accessed on 13.02.2023].Best Aquaculture Practices. 2019. BAP Program Update – Stricker Stance on Antibiotics Use in Farms, Effective January 1, 2021. Available at https://www.bapcertification.org/Downloadables/pdf/standards/PI%20-%20Notice%20-%20BAP%20bans%20use%20of%20Critically%20Important%20Antibiotics%20-%207August2019.pdf [Accessed on 13.02.2023].Best Aquaculture Practices. 2022. BAP Feed Mill Standard – Issue 3.1, 31st May 2022. Available at https://www.bapcertification.org/Downloadables/pdf/standards/GSA%20-%20Feed%20Mill%20Standard%20-%20Issue%203.1%20-%2031-May-2022.pdf [Accessed on 13.02.2023].Best Aquaculture Practices. 2023. Find BAP-Certified Producers. Available at https://bapcertification.org/Producers [Accessed on 13.02.2023].DEFRA. 2015. United Kingdom Multiannual National Plan for The Development of Sustainable Aquaculture. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480928/sustainable-aquaculture-manp-uk-2015.pdf [Accessed on 18.01.2023].Elevancini, J. 2017. How do third-party certifications control the use of antibiotics in global salmon aquaculture? College of Sustainability. Dalhousie University. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Available at https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/73361/ESS-Thesis-Regulation%20of%20Antibiotics%20in%20Salmon%20Aquaculture-Elevancini.pdf?sequence=1 [Accessed on 13.02.2023].FAO. 2011. FAO Regional Training on the Principles of Cage Culture in Reservoirs. Available at: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/SEC/docs/Fishery/Fisheries_Events_2012/Principles_of_cage_culture_in_reservoirs/Mooring_Systems.pdf [Accessed on 11.01.2023].FAO. 2023. Salmo salar. 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 on 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].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 on 11.01.2023].Martsikalis, P., Gkafas, G., Palaiokostas, C. and Exadactylos, A. 2019. Chapter 4: Genomics Era on Breeding Aquaculture Stocks, pp.65-77. In: Lembo, G and Mente, E. (eds) Organic Aquaculture - Impacts and Future Developments. Available at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05603-2_4 [Accessed on 16.01.2023].Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. 2021a. Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar), Norway Marine Net Pens. Available at: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendation/salmon/atlantic-salmon-38266?species=302 [Accessed on 11.03.2023].Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. 2021b. Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar), Scotland Marine Net Pens. Available at: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendation/salmon/atlantic-salmon-31565?species=302 [Accessed on 11.01.2023].Natural Scotland. 2022. Scotland's Aquaculture – Fish Escapes. Available at http://aquaculture.scotland.gov.uk/data/fish_escapes.aspx [Accessed on 01.02.2023].Powell, A., Tresurer, J., Pooley, C., Keay, A., Lloyyd, R., Imsland, A. and Garcia de Leaniz, C. 2018. Use of lumpfish for sea lice control in salmon farming: challenges and opportunities. Reviews in Aquaculture, Volume 10, pp.683-702. Available at https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12194 [Accessed on 16.01.2023].Scottish Government. 2015. Scotland’s National Marine Plan. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-national-marine-plan/ [Accessed on 18.01.2023].Scottish Government. 2021a. National Marine Plan Review 2021: Three Year Report on the effectiveness of Scotland’s National Marine Plan. Available at https://marine.gov.scot/sites/default/files/national_marine_plan_review_2021.pdf [Accessed on 20.01.2023].Scottish Government. 2021b. Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2021. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-fish-farm-production-survey-2021/ [Accessed on 16.01.2023].Seafish. 2020. Atlantic Salmon – salmo salar: profile last updated 16 November 2020. Available at: https://www.seafish.org/responsible-sourcing/aquaculture-farming-seafood/species-farmed-in-aquaculture/aquaculture-profiles/atlantic-salmon/ [Accessed on 09.01.2023].Seafish. 2023. Seafood retail data and insight. Available at https://www.seafish.org/insight-and-research/seafood-retail-data-and-insight/ [Accessed on 16.01.2023].SEPA. 2023. River Basin Management Planning. Available at https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/river-basin-management-planning/ [Accessed 18.01.2023]Skaala, O., Besnier, F., Borgstrom, R., Barlaup, B., Sorvik, A., Normann, E., Ostebo, B., Hansen, M. and Glover, K. 2019. 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. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12777 [Accessed on 16.01.2023].