GSI Sustainability Report
28.04.2017
The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) releases third annual sustainability report
Driving industry-wide improvements in sustainability through greater transparency and cooperation, the GSI members continue to raise the bar in industry performance by publishing the third annual sustainability report, which highlights that one-quarter of all GSI farms are now ASC certified.
THE GLOBAL SALMON INITIATIVE PUBLISHES THIRD ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
As a member of the GSI, Bakkafrost is pleased to announce the publication of the GSI’s third annual Sustainability Report. The publication of the report underlines GSI’s continued commitment to improved industry transparency, and ongoing improvements in the members’ environmental performance. This year’s report – the third published by the GSI leadership group – features key sustainability data from all 12 member companies.
Key highlights from the report include:
4 years’ (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) worth of data across 14 key environmental and social indicators
This year’s report has been independently audited – raising the bar even higher on industry transparency
25% of GSI farms are now ASC certified (114 GSI farms)
The continuing relative environmental advantage of farmed salmon over other protein sources
Responsible use of marine ingredients thanks to innovations in feed resources and improvements in feed conversion ratios
GSI members provide positive contributions to local communities – employing almost 20,000 people globally
As a member of the GSI we continue to focus on our key priority areas of improving disease management, sourcing sustainable feed, and continuing to aim for the highest industry standards. While we recognize that there is still work to be done, we are pleased with the progress we are making so far.
Through cooperation and best-practice sharing on environmental performance, we have confidence that, as an industry, and as an individual company, we can make progress in improving the sustainability of our operations much faster than if we worked individually.
For more information, please see the full media release: www.globalsalmoninitiative.org/media
To view the Sustainability Report please visit: www.globalsalmoninitiative.org/sustainability-report
Brussels, Belgium – April 26, 2017, 09:00 CET: The 2016 Sustainability Report published today by the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) features 4 years’ worth of data from all 12 GSI salmon farming member companies. Using the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Salmon Standard as a framework, the report documents the GSI members’ environmental and social performance across 14 key sustainability indicators, and highlights improvements in responsible business practices. Continuing to raise the bar in industry transparency, this year’s report is also the first from the GSI leadership group to include data verified by independent auditors, providing additional credibility and reassurance for stakeholders.
Highlights from the 2016 Sustainability Report include:
Nearly one-quarter of all GSI farms now ASC certified – a 60% increase from 2015
Overall preferential environmental performance of farmed salmon when compared to other livestock sectors on indicators such as carbon footprint, energy retention and protein retention
Continuing improvements in the responsible use of feed ingredients, with the average feed conversion ratio for farmed salmon now at 1.3:1
GSI members employ almost 20,000 people across small and rural communities globally
Focus on ongoing positive social impact through meaningful interactions with local communities
Move towards greater use of innovative and holistic approaches to disease management
Piers Hart, Global Head of Aquaculture at WWF commented, "We have closely followed the work of the GSI for a number of years now, and are pleased to see further significant progress towards the initiative´s goal of achieving 100% ASC certified farmed salmon by 2020. Setting ambitious sustainability goals remains a crucial factor for every individual company. However, sector-wide transformation can only happen through collective sustainability initiatives such as the GSI, which represents almost 50% of the global salmon industry. That´s why we call upon all farmed salmon producers to become ASC certified, either individually or through GSI membership. We also hope it will be an incentive for retailers worldwide to continue to offer their consumers ASC certified salmon”.
The GSI Sustainability Report also demonstrates the preferable environmental performance of farmed salmon when compared to other protein sectors – such as chicken, beef and pork – including its low, and decreasing, feed conversion ratio (the lower this ratio, the more efficient an animal is at retaining the protein and energy from feed and converting it into food for humans), and low carbon footprint.
“We want to use our combined knowledge and global reach to raise the bar when it comes to environmental and social performance not only in the farmed sector, but across the food industry as a whole”, said Per Grieg, GSI Co-Chair and Chairman of the Board, Grieg Seafood ASA. “We want to lead by example, and demonstrate to other companies, and other sectors, that improving sustainability is a pre-competitive issue. What the GSI Sustainability Report demonstrates is that, through greater transparency and greater cooperation, it is possible to achieve change at scale which is good for the environment, and good for business”.
To view the GSI Sustainability Report and more information on the work of the GSI, please visit our website at: http://globalsalmoninitiative.org/sustainability-report
ABOUT GSI
The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) is a leadership initiative established in 2013 by global farmed salmon producers focused on making significant progress on industry sustainability. Today, GSI comprises 12 companies – representing approximately 50% of the global salmon production industry – that are fully committed to realizing a shared goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy food to feed a growing global population, whilst minimizing our environmental footprint, and continuing to improve our social contribution.
GSI member companies are Bakkafrost; Blumar; Cermaq; Compañía Pesquera Camanchaca; Empresas AquaChile; Grieg Seafood ASA; Huon Aquaculture; Los Fiordos; Marine Harvest; Multiexport Foods S.A.; New Zealand King Salmon; and Ventisqueros. GSI companies have a presence in Australia, Canada, Chile, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK, and make significant contributions to the economies of these respective countries.
In addition, the GSI also has a number of Associate Members in both the pharmaceutical and feed industries, including Benchmark Holdings plc; BioMar; Cargill; Elanco; Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health; PHARMAQ; Salmofood; and Skretting.
For further information on the GSI, please visit or contact us at:
Website – www.globalsalmoninitiative.org
Email GSI Secretariat – GSI@axon-com.com
Twitter – @GSI_Salmon
Media contacts:
Sophie Ryan - AXON - +1 604 506 8414 - sryan@axon-com.com
Cameron Donald - AXON - + 44 (0)7710 388 627 - cdonald@axon-com.com