The winners of the inaugural Aquaculture Stewardship Council Nordic Awards have been named.
Presented during the Nordic Seafood Summit in Göteborg, Sweden, on 22 January, the awards celebrate ASC-certified companies in the region who consistently demonstrate leadership and innovation.
Cermaq was named Producer of the Year whilst IKEA scooped the Retailer of the Year award. Nordic Trout Sverige was awarded Newcomer of the Year.
“The ASC Nordic Awards are our way of recognising the outstanding work and initiatives undertaken by our partners across the Nordics over the past year,” said Laetitia Rosing, Regional Manager of ASC Nordics.
“The award categories reflect the diversity of our stakeholders, from producers to suppliers and retailers, showcasing the entire value chain in action.”
Norway is responsible for around half of the global production of salmon, currently around 2.5 million tonnes. Approximately 40% of Norway’s output is ASC-certified.
“2024 was a remarkable year of growth for the Nordic market,” continued Rosing.
“Collectively, farms have produced an impressive 801,000 tonnes of ASC-certified seafood and we have seen a 25% growth in the uptake of ASC-labelled products in stores across the Nordics.”
Cermaq won ASC Producer of the Year 2024 for iFarm, an AI-driven system improving fish health, lice control and sustainability.
IKEA was honoured for its early commitment to selling only ASC certified salmon and ensuring chain of custody certification for IKEA Restaurants and Nordic Trout Sverige was awarded ASC Newcomer of the Year for the first ASC-certified farm in Sweden.
ASC chief executive Chris Ninnes congratulated the winners. “Each of the winners and nominees of the ASC Nordic Awards has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing responsible seafood farming practices in the Nordic region,” he said.
“Their dedication not only helps to protect our oceans and ecosystems but also sets an inspiring example for others in the industry.”
