Seriola farm. (Photo: Stock File)

First seriola farms obtain ASC certification

The Japanese aquaculture farms Kurose Suisan and Global Ocean Works have become the first seriola producers in the world to obtain certifications under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Seriola and Cobia Standard for responsible aquaculture.

Both companies received the recognition last December.

Kurose Suisan achieved the certification of three farms -Kushima, Uchinoura and Nobeoka - by third-party conformity assessment body (CAB) SCS Global Services, after adopting the multi-site approach of ASC.

On its part, Global Ocean Works obtained its certification after an audit to their farm Fukuyama done by Amita.

"This is a significant milestone for the ASC. National production of seriola in Japan is a large proportion of the global total. It is the most farmed finfish species in Japan, and is an integral and historical part of many coastal communities”, said Koji Yamamoto, ASC’s General Manager for Japan.

“The arrival of certified seriola products into the market is a highly anticipated and a significant addition to the ASC line of products from domestic aquaculture. I sincerely wish that this achievement will contribute positively to the future of these coastal communities and that through the market recognition for ASC labelled product this is reinforced. It is pleasing that this market interest is encouraging other seriola farms to follow their example”, he added.

Kurose Suisan has farms located in Kushima, in the Miyazaki prefecture in the south of Japan, and have been producing seriola since 2004 under the brand Kurose Yellowtail.

Global Oceans Works was founded in 2009 in Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture Japan, and it specializes in the processing and sale of ‘hamachi' yellowtail.

The ASC Seriola and Cobia Standard, launched last year, addresses strict environmental and social requirements for farmed fish. It sets measurable, performance-based requirements that farms must meet to be certified, including preservation of local habitats and biodiversity, minimising fish escapes, conservation of water and water quality, minimal use of therapeutics and antibiotics, and responsible sourcing of feed ingredients, including strict limits on the use of wild fish as an ingredient and full traceability back to a responsibly managed source.

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