Mainstream Canada is first salmon farming company in the world to earn Best Aquaculture Practices certification

Mainstream Canada's Brent Island farm near Campbell River, B.C. is the first salmon farm in the world to be certified to the Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices new standards for farmed salmon.

"By meeting this new standard, we are proving our commitment to find ways to constantly improve our operations as part of our sustainability principles," said Fernando Villarroel, Mainstream Canada's Managing Director. "Our vision as part of the Cermaq Group is to be a global leader in the aquaculture industry and we are committed to creating value through sustainable aquaculture, which is our mission statement."

Villarroel said Mainstream Canada has chosen to seek Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards because they align with the company's principles of sustainability.

"The standards are dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. They are made to continuously improve over time and they are the result of an international science-based certification program," he said.

"The Global Aquaculture Alliance proudly congratulates Mainstream Canada for leading the industry in achieving the first BAP salmon farm certification," Global Aquaculture Alliance President George Chamberlain said. "This prestigious accomplishment culminates a three-year development process for the standards that involved dedicated NGOs, academics and industry representatives working together to develop consensus-based salmon standards that benefit the community, the environment and consumers."

The Brent Island farm audit took notice of Mainstream Canada's standard operating procedures, which in some cases have the company self-regulating to a higher standard than government requirements, said Richard Finch, Mainstream Canada's Certification and Quality Manager.

"This is great news for us and shows that we are operating to our high standards of environmental and socially responsible practices," he said. "We were able to meet the BAP standards thanks to our comprehensive management systems, which are certified to ISO standards."

This spring, Mainstream Canada was the first salmon farming company to receive Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture certification through the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association. As well, the company received a COR award from the Food and Manufacturing Industry Occupational Safety Alliance of B.C. recognizing safe work practices.

Mainstream Canada is pleased to add BAP to its suite of certifications and plans to seek additional BAP certifications for other sites.
The BAP standard for salmon aquaculture was finalized in June by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), which operates under the goal of "feeding the world through responsible aquaculture."

Mainstream Canada's Brent Island farm was audited in October 2011 and the company received notification Dec. 12 it had been awarded the new certification.

About BAP

The Best Aquaculture Practices certification program develops achievable, science-based and continuously improved global performance standards for the aquaculture supply chain to assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means.
For more information on BAP, visit the Global Aquaculture Alliance's website.

About Mainstream Canada

Mainstream Canada is one of the largest salmon farming companies in British Columbia, Canada. The company currently operates three sites near Campbell River, including the Brent Island site. The company also operates eight sites near Port McNeill and 14 sites near Tofino in Ahousaht First Nation territory under a comprehensive protocol agreement. The company produces approximately 25,000 tonnes per year (round weight) of fresh, farmed Atlantic salmon.