Responsible aquaculture in the spotlight at Mexican trout farmers” congress

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Latin America Manager Laurent Viguie has presented at the 4th National Trout Farmers Association Congress in the State of Michoacán, Mexico. The annual event drew participation from high profile Mexican producers, suppliers, government representatives and NGOs.

During the ASC workshop, Laurent provided an overview of the ASC and the trout standard outlining how it can be applied to Mexican trout aquaculture. The audience was keen to learn more about the ASC programme and how it can bring enhanced reputation, more market opportunities and access to new markets.

The congress also featured workshops on trout farming, commercial opportunities, feed, rising production costs, and government support of the industry in Mexico.

Responsible trout farming in Mexico

Trout farming in Mexico is mainly concentrated to the State of Michoacán, which lies approximately two hours west of Mexico City, where the congress was held. The majority of the operations are small river farms that work with classic technology.

The interest in the ASC from Mexican trout farmers has been encouraging, and operators from many regions have expressed interested in adopting the standard. Plans are underway to work with these early adopters to ensure that they will have a smooth transition toward certification.

Robust standard for responsible trout farming

The ASC Freshwater Trout Standard was developed by a diverse group of stakeholders, including farmers, conservationists, scientists, seafood buyers, processors, government officials and other interested parties.

ASC certified operations must demonstrate that they use farming methods that deliver real benefits to the ecosystem: a cleaner seabed, cleaner water and healthier fish. They also help to preserve local biodiversity, and work in a way that supports their community.