Cermaq has presented its sustainability results for 2010.
Cermaq has a goal of zero escapes, a goal which was reached in 2010. It is vital for the company and for the industry to keep the number of escaped fish to a minimum, as escaped salmon can represent a strain to the wild salmon stocks. By year end 2010 the company had 46.4 million fish in the sea in Chile, Canada and Norway.
Cermaq says that it is essential that the marine raw materials come from well managed fish stocks, but it is also important that the marine ingredients are used in an efficient manner in food production. In 2010 the use of trimmings and bi-products as raw material in fish feed increased to 21% of marine raw materials. There are still huge opportunities to increase the use of this kind of raw material in salmon feed.
The share of fish transferred to sea that dies of diseases before it can be harvested is an important indicator to measure fish health. At Cermaq, mortality decreased by more than 32% from 2009 to 2010. At the same time the need for medication and treatment against disease and sea lice decreased. The use of antibiotics is down 76% from 2009. The use varies from 15 g API (active pharmaceutical ingredients)/tonne in Canada to no use at all in Norway. The need for treatment against sea lice was also down in 2010. Preventive measures, strict requirements to smolt quality, vaccination and avoiding stress are essential to secure fish health and animal welfare.
Cermaq's sustainability report has been externally audited and approved as a GRI report (Global Reporting Initiative) at a B+ level.
