Nova Austral, a Chilean salmon farmer and processor, has received its first certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for its Aracena 2 Farm in southern Chile.
The company operates in the Magellan and Antarctic region of Chile in the far southern end of the country.
Since being acquired out of bankruptcy for USD 183 million (EUR 161.7 million) by Altor Fund III and Bain Capital in October 2014, Nova Austral has sought to improve its environmental and social aquaculture performance. It currently has a second salmon farm, Aracena 3 Farm, under review for ASC certification.
According to a company press release, Nova Austral has set a goal of supplying more than 50 percent of its harvest as ASC-certified salmon by the end of 2016.
“We are very focused on being able to supply our clients with ASC-certified fish continuously throughout the year, and our aim is to be the first salmon farmer in Chile to accomplish this. Our goal in the future is to produce the purest salmon in the world, and the unique location of our farms provides the best possible natural conditions,” said Nova Austral CEO Nico Nicolaides.
