Count on us: trout farmer reveals measurable sustainability goals

Danish trout farmer Musholm has announced that it is the first aquaculture company to adopt Science Based Targets for Nature and set concrete goals to reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, restore marine habitats, and protect biodiversity.

The Science Based Targets Network is a civil-society and science-led initiative founded in 2019 by a group of global NGOs who came together to help collectively define what is necessary for companies and cities to do “enough” to stay within Earth’s limits and meet society’s needs.

Today, 14 new companies including Musholm and UK supermarket chain Waitrose publicly disclosed new progress through the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).

Halving blue whiting use

Musholm’s commitments as a participant in SBTN Ocean Hub pilot project include a 52.94% reduction in the use of marine raw materials derived from blue whiting by 2029, using 2025 as the baseline year.

By 2031, Musholm will also reduce its dependence on marine raw materials from wild-caught fish through increased use of circular and alternative raw materials, supported by use of BioMar Blue Impact feed.

The fish farmer is also playing a part in the restoration of 42 hectares (104 acres) of rock reefs and 14 hectares of blue mussel reefs in Musholm Bay by 2029 in collaboration with the Municipality of Slagelse.

At the same time, Musholm will reduce the use of net impregnation at the company’s three aquaculture farms by 2030 at the latest.

Targeted sourcing

The company said its environmental goals require action both at its fish farms and further back in the value chain, which is why it is working closely with feed producer BioMar on targeted sourcing, raw material traceability, and the development of feed solutions with a lower environmental impact.

Through BioMar’s Blue Impact programme, Musholm gains access to data, analyses, and documentation that enable it to track developments and document progress over time.

“When Musholm sets ambitious environmental goals, strong partnerships throughout our value chain are essential,” said Thorbjørn Harkamp, chief executive of Musholm A/S.

“We want to take responsibility locally, where we raise our fish, but also in the parts of the world where the ingredients for our feed come from, because our demand also affects nature there.”

Continuous improvements

BioMar’s Blue Impact feed programme supports fish farmers who want greater transparency and continuous improvements in the environmental footprint of their feed. Scottish salmon farmer Loch Duart has been using Blue Impact feed made to its specific requirements for more than two years, and has reduced its forage fish dependency ratio (FFDR) from 0.44 to 0.33.

New Zealand fish farmer Akaroa King Salmon became the first king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) producer globally to adopt the innovative Blue Impact in 2024, and French sturgeon farming association Caviar d’Aquitaine also uses it.

“When we talk about nature, it’s important to look at the entire value chain and not just what happens at the farm itself,” said BioMar’s Anders Brandt-Clausen.

“Feed plays a crucial role, and through our work with raw materials, traceability, and feed formulation, we can develop solutions that consider the customer’s specific nature and sustainability requirements. At the same time, through Blue Impact, we can provide the documentation and insights that make it possible to track progress over time.

“We are proud to collaborate with Musholm and contribute the knowledge, documentation, and feed solutions that can help turn these ambitions into reality.”