ASC certified oyster farm winner of Japan Excellence Awards for Biodiversity 

The ASC certified oyster farm Miyagi Prefecture Fishery Cooperative Association in Japan has been awarded the fifth Japan Awards for Biodiversity by the AEON Environmental Foundation.

In March 2016, the Shizugawa Branch of the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Co-operative became the first producer in Japan to achieve ASC certification following an independent assessment against the ASC bivalve standard. The majority of the farms, situated in Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, were destroyed by the tsunami that followed the Tōhoku earthquake in 2011. ASC certification has helped the farms implement responsible farming practices to aid the recovery of the ecosystem that was devastated by the tsunami.

“On behalf of the ASC, I would like to congratulate the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative on receiving the prestigious Japan Awards for Biodiversity. It is great proof that ASC certification can support producers in showing their commitment to environmental change.  As the first farm in Japan to become certified against the ASC standard, I’m pleased to see that the Miyagi farmers are recognised for their effort to transforming aquaculture towards environmental sustainability in Japan,” said Koji Yamamoto, ASC General Manager Japan.

 

Prestigious prize to support sustainability

AEON Environmental Foundation established the domestic“Japan Awards for Biodiversity” in 2009, in commemoration of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Nagoya, Japan. Since it was establishedThe Awards have been conducted every two years.

The aim of the Awards is to honor five projects carried out by organisations in Japan that have made outstanding contributions and have had an impact on future activities for biodiversity. The Grand Prix recipient is awarded a certificate and a monetary prize of two million yen and each of the four Excellence Award recipient is awarded a certificate and a monetary prize of one million yen.

On 26 September, the award ceremony will be held at the United Nations University, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo and the most outstanding project will be presented with the Grand Prix.

Through the award, the AEON Environmental Foundation aims to mainstream outstanding initiatives related to biodiversity. The foundation will continue to work on activities to protect the biodiversity in order to conserve the environment for the next generation.

Japan Awards for Biodiversity
https://www.aeon.info/ef/midoripress/award/index.html

 

Watch the film about the Shizugawa Branch of the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Co-operative: