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Salmon Farming Method Listed Green by Seafood Watch
(UNITED STATES, 1/24/2010)
A new particular method for farming Pacific coho salmon in freshwater tanks, employed exclusively by AquaSeed Corp., has earned the coveted Seafood Watch® “Super-Green” status from the Monterey Bay Aquarium's program.
The approval follows several months of exhaustive site visits by Seafood Watch scientists and reviews of the AquaSeed’s production facility, feed ratios, fish contaminant and pollution discharge levels.
Until now farm-raised salmon has been tagged as an unsustainable aquaculture practice by environmentalist because of pollution, escape and inefficiency issues.
“This is extremely exciting. It's not an experimental science project. It is mature to the point where there is real potential to scale it up", said Geoffrey Shester Senior Science Manager, Seafood Watch.
The Seafood Watch “Super Green” list denotes seafood in the “Best Choice” category that is not only good for the environment, but better for people due to low levels of contaminants and high levels of omega-3s fatty acids.
 “Super Green means our salmon is good for the planet, and good for people,” said AquaSeed President Per Heggelund. “It took four years to meet the rigorous standards of the Seafood WATCH scientists,” said Heggelund. “Obviously it was a worthy investment. Now we can sell salmon confident that we’re helping to meet the growing demand for healthful salmon while avoiding harmful effects on wild salmon stocks.”
“By the end of the year, we hope to launch a new company that is wholly devoted to widespread production and distribution of freshwater Pacific Coho salmon using the AquaSeed system,” Heggelund added.
The new company’s long term vision is to locate production facilities with a Clean-Tech system based on water conservation technologies near major urban markets that, for the first time, will produce sustainable salmon both local and fresh, all year round.
About AquaSeed Corporation
 AquaSeed was established in 1988 as a producer of superior genetic seedstock in the international aquaculture industry. It is one of the few companies in the world that specialize in a wide variety of seedstocks with documented superior growth rates.
In 1991 AquaSeed acquired the Domsea® coho broodstock from Campbell Soup Company and its family bred Pacific salmon strain. Since then AquaSeed has become an international leader in supplying genetically superior Pacific salmon seedstocks such as its Domsea® coho and Donaldson steelhead. Domsea coho and steelhead strains are the world's highest selling in their categories, with global sales over 10 million eyed eggs per year.
The role of AquaSeed® in the development of salmon farms around the world goes far beyond the production and sale of top-of-the-line coho and Donaldson steelhead. AquaSeed’s resources of genetic material and expertise place it in a position to both service and assist in the development of salmon farming throughout the world.
 AquaSeed has also developed products to aid in the vaccination of fish and the transportation of eyed eggs. The company also provides a patented EggBox® product line, which ensures safe transportation of live salmonid embryos (eyed eggs).
With more than 15 generations of selective breeding, the Domsea strains represent the most successful pedigreed breeding program in the salmon livestock industry. AquaSeed's success in applying state-of-the-art biotechnology and genetics has made it a leader in aqua-genetics and Pacific salmon breeding.
AquaSeed is also applying its expertise in the conservation of endangered Pacific salmon by providing gene banks through its Safety-Net Program.
Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program
The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans. Seafood Watch recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid."
Seafood Watch raises consumer awareness through pocket guides, website, mobile applications and outreach efforts and encourages restaurants, distributors and seafood purveyors to purchase from sustainable sources.
Seafood Watch recommendations are science-based, peer reviewed, and use ecosystem-based criteria. Since 1999, they have distributed tens of millions of pocket guides, the iPhone application has been downloaded more than 70,000 times, and have about 200 partners across North America, including the two largest food service companies in the United States.
Related Article
By Margaret Stacey
Information of the company:
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Address:
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2301 NE Blakeley Street, Suite 102
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City:
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Seattle
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State/ZIP:
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Washington (98105-3293)
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Country:
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United States
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Phone:
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+1 206 527 6696
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Fax:
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+1 206 527 6779
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E-Mail:
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[email protected]
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