Australia’s first processing plant has achieved Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.
The certification of Tassal Group Ltd.’s Dover, Tasmania, salmon processing plant means that the company is Australia’s first approved company to offer two-star salmon.
The facility received BAP certification on 30 July. Tassal was Australia’s first company to earn BAP certification in December 2012, with the certification of its first two salmon farm sites. Since then, 13 of the company’s farm sites have received BAP certification, bringing the total to 15 farm sites across six regions in the state of Tasmania.
“Taking the next step in certifying our processing plant demonstrates Tassal’s commitment to certification and accountability throughout our value chain, ensuring we can deliver the best possible product to the Australian consumer,” said Linda Sams, the company’s head of sustainability.
The Dover facility processes about 24,000 metric tons of Atlantic salmon annually; it feeds processed product into other processing plants for smoking and value adding, representing about 40% of the company’s total production.
The company said it is working with its feed supplier, Skretting Australia, on the possibility of sourcing its feed from a BAP-certified feed mill and will seriously look at pursuing BAP certification for its salmon hatcheries once the BAP salmon hatcheries standards are completed.
