Taylor Shellfish Farms has become the first US grower to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for a farming operation in Washington State.
The Shelton, Washington, based company received ASC Bivalve Certification for its operation in the South Puget Sound basin, which comprises the Hood Canal and the area south of the Tacoma Narrows, including Olympia and Shelton.
“Taylor Shellfish Farms is dedicated to providing our customers with the freshest, highest quality shellfish available and doing so in ways that respect the environment, our communities and the people who work for us,” said Bill Taylor, company CEO. “We believe the ASC to be the gold standard for assessing shellfish farm performance, and we are very gratified to have completed the work to become the first farm in the US to achieve this certification.”
The company says it will actively pursue certification for all its farm operations in Washington State.
“The US is a hugely important market in terms of global aquaculture consumption and, by partnering with industry leaders such as Taylor Shellfish, we can make a strong case that responsibly farmed fish is better for business and better for the environment”, said Chris Ninnes, CEO of the ASC.
Taylor Shellfish Farms produces Manila clams, Mediterranean mussels, geoduck and a variety of live, shucked and frozen oysters for local, national and international markets. The business employs 550 and operates on 11,000 acres of tidelands along Puget Sound, the Washington Coast and British Columba. The company also operates hatchery and nursery facilities in Hawaii and California, a shellfish distribution business in Hong Kong and three oyster bars in Seattle.
