New markets for Shetland salmon?
Grieg Seafood Shetland (GSS) has been awarded Global GAP certification, in a move that has been welcomed by the company, in part as it should allow them access to new markets.
"While we have not been awarded any new contracts immediately, it does give us access to different market segments and a number of retailers demand the security offered by the certification,” GSS Managing Director, Sigurd Pettersen, told Fish Farming Expert.
“Although we were already Freedom Food certified and previously produced some organic certified salmon, we were probably the only fish farming company in Scotland without this level of certification, and a number of customers ask for this.
“We are very happy that we’re now certified as it shows that our company cover the criteria for legal compliance, for food safety, worker occupational health and safety, animal welfare, and environmental and ecological care,” he added.
GSS chose Global GAP assessment due to the clarity of what the standards require.
“It’s an internationally-approved standard and is very specific, making it easy to measure whether you’re in compliance with it. While we didn’t need to make any major changes, especially to our husbandry techniques – the few minor adjustments we needed to make related to paperwork and health and safety issues,” he reflects.
