China’s Largest Abalone Producer First in Country to Achieve ASC Certification

China’s largest abalone producer has also become the first in the country to achieve certification against the ASC Abalone Standard.

Fujian China-Singapore Evervest Co., Ltd. (FCSE) celebrated the achievement with a certification ceremony at a national annual abalone symposium held in Rongcheng, Shandong Province.

FCSE is based in Lianjiang County of Fujian Province, known as the hometown of abalone in China. Over 20 years it has grown into China’s largest abalone farming company, and operates across the entire supply chain, from breeding and farming, to processing and sales. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of abalone, making it an important region for efforts to reduce farming impacts and improve practices.

The newly certified farm is located in the waters surrounding Datan Island in the East Sea, which enjoys a number of natural advantages including moderate salinity and abundant dissolved oxygen.

FCSE has made a number of innovations, including the replacement of Styrofoam floating rafts with sturdier wave-resistant alternatives, increasing safety and reducing plastic pollution. They have also teamed up with Shanghai Ocean University to develop a traceability system where, feed, marine environment and water quality changes are monitored. The density of abalone has been reduced over time to improve quality and working conditions for staff.

 

 

“We aim to provide high quality abalones to consumers and that’s why we want to change the traditional extensive farming practices to the standardized modern approaches to abalone farming,” said Wu Yongshou, the chairman of Fujian China-Singapore Evervest. “We seek to open up the high-end market through ASC accreditation and we also hope that ASC’s high standards and rigorous requirements will help Chinese abalone farming companies review and improve their practices so as to increase their sustainability.”

“Abalone is a high-end seafood that is very popular among the Chinese people. Fujian China-Singapore Evervest is the largest abalone farming company in China and the first to meet ASC standards,” said Fang Qing, ASC China Country Manager. “This will provide strong support to upgrade the aquatic products for Chinese consumers.”

“China is now vigorously promoting the green development of aquaculture,” according to Mr. You Weiwei, Secretary-General of the Abalone Branch of China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association and an associate professor at Xiamen University. “Abalone actually has the natural advantages to become a model species for green aquaculture, due to its farming model and feed composition. The first ASC certificate for responsibly farmed abalone in China will sharpen the competitive edge and strengthen the credibility of the abalones produced in China. It will also bring Chinese experiences into the global practices in responsible aquaculture.”