Fifax becomes the first farm in Finland to achieve ASC certification

Fifax has become the first farm in Finland to achieve ASC certification, for their land-based rainbow trout farm.

Fifax’s Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) farm is based in Åland, a group of islands in the Baltic Sea between the company’s two main markets, Finland and Sweden.

Though the farm is land-based, Fifax make the most of their enviable location by using filtered water from the Baltic Sea. The company, founded in 2012, has placed environmental sustainability at the heart of its operations and works hard to minimise its impacts.

Samppa Ruohtula, CEO of Fifax, said: ‘Our vision is to be pioneers in large-scale sustainable farming, so we are delighted to be the first in Finland to achieve ASC certification.

‘We are very conscious of the importance of protecting our environment, and providing customers with responsibly-produced trout all year around. ASC certification gives our customers that assurance, and demonstrates our passion for responsible farming.’

Employing around 30 people and capable of producing over 3,000 tonnes of fish a year, the Fifax farm is one of the largest operational land-based facilities in Northern Europe. The company has embraced technology, using it to ensure optimal conditions for fish welfare, efficient production, and minimal environmental impacts.

Rainbow trout is the main species farmed in Finland, a country where the aquaculture sector is relatively small but growing. The certification of Fifax indicates the importance of ASC recognition is spreading beyond the countries that have traditionally dominated global aquaculture production like Norway.

Ola Nyrinder, ASC’s Market Development Manager for Norther Europe, said: ‘For ASC’s mission to drive up standards in aquaculture we want to appeal to farmers and consumers around the world, so this is an important milestone. Fifax are providing their customers with responsible seafood, and we hope their success will inspire other farmers to follow suit.’