GAA Spearheading Initiative To Reduce SRS In Farmed Salmon In Chile
Together with Multiexport Foods S.A. (“Multiexport”), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui Tokyo”) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch® program, the Global Aquaculture Alliance is spearheading an initiative in Chile aimed at contributing to a reduction in the incidence of Salmonid Rickettsial Septicaemia (SRS) in farmed salmon.
The Piscirickettsia salmonis, or SRS, an endemic intercellular bacterium, has reportedly cost the farmed salmon industry more than $300 million annually. SRS can spread quickly, causing high mortalities if not treated quickly.
Announced on Day 3 of Seafood Expo North America on March 21, this initiative, if implemented, would apply the principles of integrated health management, including the implementation of GAA’s newly developed Biosecurity Area Management Standards, together with an array of health management tools such as vaccines, functional feeds and genetic selection, among others.
A key element of this initiative is close coordination of biosecurity management among farms within a production area and physical separation from nearby zones. This project would also monitor a variety of other factors, including water quality and the presence of harmful algae blooms.
If implemented, Multiexport’s farmed salmon producer subsidiary, which is jointly owned with Mitsui Tokyo, will manage every activity related to this initiative.
“The Global Aquaculture Alliance is pleased to collaborate on this unique opportunity to apply the principles of integrated health management and biosecurity area management to reduce the use of antibiotics in controlling an otherwise intractable disease. The results of this project will have far reaching benefits to producers, consumers and the environment,” said GAA President George Chamberlain.
“We are committed to providing our value clients the highest standards of quality and sustainability now and in the future. Accordingly, we will be always collaborating, promoting, and working towards securing our customers the sustainability of the farmed salmon industry, in all its aspects, wherever we operate. This initiative goes in the direction, enhancing, our goal of providing a highly sustainable source of healthy protein, with a minimal environmental footprint. It is a great opportunity, with highly valuable partners, to even improve our standards and to contribute to a better fish health and environment,” comments Andres Lyon, CEO of Multiexport Foods S.A. and CEO of Salmones Multiexport S.A.
“We are honored to participate in the organization of this initiative with great partners both in Chile and the US, which will contribute to strengthening ecological sustainability in salmon farming in Chile. We hope this initiative will establish a new integrated management system as an advanced farming standard in Chile for a better environment, better sustainability, and better quality salmon,” comments Yasushi Takahashi, COO of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.’s Americas Business Unit and CEO of Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.
About GAA
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. In collaboration with the World Bank and the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation, it has conducted several case studies on Lessons learned in aquaculture disease management. A white paper on “Reducing Disease Risk in Aquaculture” and Online training modules on disease management are available on the GAA website (www.aquaculturealliance.org). Through the development of its Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards, GAA has become the leading standards-setting organization for farmed seafood.
About Multiexport Foods
Multiexport Foods is a leader and a pioneer actor in the Salmon Farming Industry in Chile, fully integrated in its operations, from the genetics to the market, with presence in more than 30 countries, being US market the most important among them, where its products has been recognized for over a quarter of a century. Multiexport Foods runs farming operations in the X & XI region in Chile, producing Atlantic and Coho Salmon with the highest and most strict sustainability standards in its operations, offering to the markets and specialized customers value added products with high food safety standards and certifications.
About Seafood Watch
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways that minimize impacts on the ecosystem. Our recommendations indicate which seafood items are Best Choices or Good Alternatives, and which ones you should Avoid. Seafood Watch raises public awareness about sustainable seafood issues through its consumer guides, website, app and outreach efforts. Since 1999, it has distributed more than 57 million consumer guides and its smartphone app has been downloaded close to 2 million times. The program also encourages restaurants, distributors and seafood purveyors to purchase from sustainable sources. More than 200 businesses across North America partner with Seafood Watch, including two of the largest food service companies in the U.S.
About Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world, with 138 offices in 65 countries as of Mar.1, 2017. Utilizing our global operating locations, network and information resources, we are multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: Iron & Steel Products, Mineral & Metal Resources, Infrastructure Projects, Integrated Transportation Systems, Chemicals, Energy, Food, Food & Retail Management, Healthcare & Service, Consumer Business, IT & Communication, and Corporate Development Business. Mitsui is actively taking on challenges for global business innovation around the world. For more information, visit http://www.mitsui.com.
