Bakkafrost becomes the first ASC certified farm in the Faroe Islands

Bakkafrost’s salmon farm in Gøtuvík earned Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification against ASC’s robust Salmon Standard last week. This makes Bakkafrost’s  Gøtuvík farm the first farm in the Faroe Islands to become ASC certified.

In 2014, Bakkafrost announced its goal that the first farm would be ASC certified in 2015.

Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost, said: “It is decisive for the competitiveness of Bakkafrost that we follow the toughest international standards and we continuously set ourselves new and challenging goals. ASC is a very thorough and challenging international standard that requires that our procedures are sustainable. Bakkafrost is working on getting more farms ASC certified.”

Esther Luiten, ASC’s Senior Commercial Marketing Manager, said: “I’m delighted for Bakkafrost and congratulate them on achieving ASC certification. Farmed salmon is a well known and respected product globally. Minimising the associated environmental and social impacts is crucial in further strengthening its important market position. Bakkafrost is helping the industry make strides towards reducing the negative impacts of aquaculture.”

GSI commitment to meet ASC Salmon Standard by 2020


Bakkafrost is a member of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI), and is committed to ensuring all its salmon farms meet the ASC Salmon Standard by 2020.

The GSI comprises 17 member companies that represent over 70 per cent of the global salmon production.

A robust standard for responsible salmon farming

Globally, 30 farms now meet the ASC Salmon Standard, which represents a production volume of nearly 100,000 mt. A further 21 farms are in assessment.

The ASC Salmon Standard aims to address the key negative environmental and social impacts of salmon farming associated with: sourcing of feed ingredients, disease transmission between farms, protecting the wild salmon populations, controlling escapes into the wild, use of therapeutics and antibiotics, site impacts, and labour issues on farms.