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New Zealand salmon producer attains global certification

Tuesday 26 March 2013, 1:57PM

By Pead PR

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Attaining an internationally accepted aquaculture sustainability certification confirms NZ King Salmon’s world-class environmental standards the company says.

The South Island-based business has been confirmed as a sustainable salmon producer through achieving the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.

The certification covers NZ King Salmon’s entire current operations - five sites and three production facilities in Marlborough and Nelson. The company’s new sites awarded following the recent Environmental Protection Authority hearings will be audited as they come on stream.

Certification examines farm compliance issues such as community property rights and relations, worker relations, the environment, fish management and welfare, wildlife interactions and supply storage and disposal.

On the production side, it addresses management practices such as quality and staff, environment and food safety and verification and traceability.

NZ King Salmon CEO Grant Rosewarne says the BAP certification confirms the company is doing what it says it has been doing.

“Given the high standards we set ourselves compliance was achievable without a great deal of change to our current processes and procedures,” Mr Rosewarne says. “Corrective actions following audit were limited and indicative of a sound operation with only minor tweaks required.

“We’re very pleased with this certification. We can carry the BAP certification mark on our packaging and that gives consumers comfort knowing we are managing our activities in an environmentally sensitive and acceptable way,” he says.

Mr Rosewarne says the company did considerable preliminary work on researching which was the best global standard.

“We came to the conclusion the BAP certification was one of the best suited to the New Zealand situation which differs from most other territories in terms of isolation from disease and the King salmon species we farm.”

Mr Rosewarne says the company’s operations were audited by an experienced Australian-based certifier who is contracted to the GAA. Audits will be carried out annually.

“This is obviously important in all markets but especially so offshore – the US is an example - where some customers will take product from a certified producer in preference to others.”

He says traceability is a very big part of BAP certification. “It interconnects links in the aquaculture seafood production chain, assuring purchasers that all steps in the process were taken in compliance with environmental, social and food safety standards.”

Mr Rosewarne says the process cost “tens of thousands of dollars” in fees as well as a “considerable” time commitment from senior management, farm managers and processing facility staff.

“But we believe it has been well worth the effort,” he says.

Further detail on the GAA’s BAP standards can be found here.

 

FACT FILE: NZ KING SALMON

Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practice

South Island based salmon producer NZ King Salmon has successfully gained internationally recognised sustainability certification – the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practice standard. 

What is BAP certification?

To promote responsible practices across the aquaculture industry, the Global Aquaculture Alliance coordinates the development of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification standards for hatcheries, farms, processing facilities and feed mills. It is a dynamic programme that drives continued improvements via high standards in aquaculture facilities for shrimp, salmon, tilapia, channel catfish and Pangasius. Additional standards are under development.

What is the Global Aquaculture Alliance?

Global Aquaculture Alliance is the leading international organization dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture and a safe supply of seafood to meet growing world food needs. Organized in 1997, the non-profit NGO develops the BAP standards and encourages the use of responsible aquaculture practices. GAA also works to improve production and marketing efficiencies, and promote effective, coordinated regulatory and trade policies.

What has NZ King Salmon done?

NZ King Salmon has applied for and been granted certification to the BAP standard. The process involves a comprehensive compliance audit of NZ King Salmon production facilities, systems and processes for five farm sites and three plants in Nelson and Marlborough in New Zealand.

Why did NZ King Salmon apply for BAP certification?

The company undertook preliminary work on ascertaining the best standard for New Zealand conditions. The BAP standard appeared to be the best suited to the New Zealand situation which differs from most other territories in terms of isolation from disease and the King salmon species farmed here. The BAP standard is accepted worldwide as a recognised set of standards and is also being adopted by others in the salmon industry.

What did the company have to do to comply?

Given the high standards NZ King Salmon sets itself, compliance was achievable based on the company’s current processes and procedures. Where a limited number of corrective actions were required, it achieved them without much change and indicated a sound operation with only minor tweaks required.

What aspects of the company’s operations are audited?

The audit is comprehensive across all of NZ King Salmon’s processes and production facilities.

For fish farming operations it covers aspects such as:

  • Property rights & regulatory compliance
  • Community relations
  • Worker safety & employee relations
  • The farm environment
  • Ocean fish conservation
  • Predator & wildlife interactions
  • Animal health & welfare
  • Food safety.

 

For fish processing operations it covers management aspects such as:

  • Quality & staff
  • Environment & food safety
  • Verification & traceability.

 

Who does the audit and how often?

In NZ King Salmon’s case, the audits are conducted by the GAA’s Australian-based certifier. Audits are conducted annually.

What benefits are there in certification for consumers?

Certification gives comfort to both consumers and the company that NZ King Salmon is managing its farming and processing activities in an environmentally sensitive and acceptable way. This is confirmed through an independent audit process.

What about for overseas customers?

Traceability is a very important factor for our overseas customers, especially among food professionals. Traceability is an integral part of Best Aquaculture Practices certification. It interconnects links in the aquaculture seafood production chain and enables each processed lot to be traced back to its origin. It assures purchasers that all steps in the production process have been taken in compliance with environmental, social and food safety standards. NZ King Salmon is required to maintain internal records of the required data to document essential information and establish “one up, one down” traceability.