New Zealand King Salmon is now eligible to offer four-star Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) salmon following the certification of its largest feed supplier, Skretting.
The certification from BAP, a division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, was confirmed this month, making New Zealand King Salmon the world’s first king salmon company to earn the distinction and Australasia’s first salmon producer to offer four-star BAP salmon.
“New Zealand King Salmon is an ambitious company that never rests on its laurels and is constantly working to become even more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable,” said NZKS CEO and managing director Grant Rosewarne.
“We’re absolutely thrilled with this certification, because it further recognises over 30 years of hard work and investment in growing the world’s best salmon,” added Mr Rosewarne.
Extensive audit
Four stars is the highest designation in the BAP third-party certification programme, indicating that a product originates from a BAP-certified processing plant, farm, hatchery and feed mill.
The certification of Skretting’s feed mill in Tasmania came soon after New Zealand King Salmon completed its annual audit of its three hatcheries and all eight of its salmon farms in South Island’s Marlborough Sound as well as its processing plant.
Audit efficiency is achieved by a combination of reviewing documents and policies common to all member sites such as permits, operating licenses and diver safety, in addition to individual site visits to assess site-specific audit clauses, escapes, therapeutant use and wildlife interactions.
New Zealand King Salmon operates under four key brands: Ōra King, Regal, Southern Ocean and Omega Plus, as well as the New Zealand King Salmon label.
