The non-profit animal welfare group Humane Farm Animal Care is bringing a new certification standard to salmon farms everywhere.
According to a report from Seafood Source, the US based Humane Farm Animal Care will start implementing its new certification standard to salmon farms. If the farms comply, they will receive a “Certified Humane” stamp of approval.
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The new certification program will begin in Chile later this year. Chile is the world’s second largest producer of farmed salmon in the world and a major exporter overseas, making it the perfect starting point for the new standard.
The First of its Kind
This new certification makes Humane Farm Animal Care the first organization of its kind to certify farmed salmon. The organization hopes this certificate will improve salmon farming practices to make them more humane.
To receive the certification, salmon farmers must adhere to a set of humane practices. These include letting their salmon live in as close to a natural state as possible and feed on a natural nutrient-dense diet free from growth enhancers and certain antibiotics. Farmers will also go through a training course on animal welfare.
The certification launch is projected to happen during 2024’s Aquasur conference in Puerto Montt, Chile. The event in Patagonia’s main salmon farming zone will become one of the world’s largest aquaculture trade fairs.
Following Chile, the organization is looking to bring their certification to Australia and Canada next. With the “Certified Humane” label, many fisheries are hoping to win over customers who oppose the practice of salmon farming.
Salmon Farming
Salmon farming has boomed around the world, fueled by salmon’s healthy image. However, the practice also has inherent problems.
Salmon feed on other fish in the wild. To mimic their natural habitat, fish farms use fish meal from small bait fish, including herring and anchovies among other species.
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Nearly a quarter of the fish caught around the world goes into feed for aquaculture. To supply this demand, trawlers throughout the coasts of countries such as Chile pull in everything they can, affecting small-scale fisheries and the local ecosystems.
Finally, the ultimate cause for concern is environmental. Upwards of 15% to 20% of salmon die in open net farms, releasing toxins and organic material at a staggering rate. Escaped salmon also play a negative role in the local food chain by competing with native fish for food.
There are new aquaculture technologies that help make salmon farming more sustainable. Although the technologies are more expensive, many surveys show that customers will pay a premium for environmentally sustainable farmed salmon.