CERTIFICATIONS & SUSTAINABILITY SEALS

We are guided by the following seals, which we believe are recognized and internationally accepted:

  • MSC: Marine Stewardship Council
  • ASC: Aquaculture Stewardship Council
  • Organic seal
  • ASMI: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
  • Global G.A.P.
  • Friend of the Sea
  • IRF: Island Responsible Fisheries
  • Seafood from Norway

MSC (MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL)

MSC stands for fish and seafood from sustainable wild catches - for the protection of the oceans and sustainable fish consumption. Fisheries can apply for the seal and must prove in an independent, scientific assessment that the standards for sustainable fishing and for the traceability of fish products developed in cooperation with scientists, fisheries experts and NGOs are being adhered to. The standard is based on these three principles: 1. protection of stocks; 2. minimal impact on the ecosystem; 3. effective and responsible management of fisheries.

More info: www.msc.org

ASC (AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL)

The ASC logo guarantees that the conventional rearing and processing of fish and seafood in aquaculture operations complies with strict environmental and social standards. There are guidelines for the 12 most common types of farming. Among other things, farming must not have a negative impact on regional biodiversity. Mangroves and important marine animal habitats must be protected, pollution reduced and the misuse of antibiotics prevented. Social standards such as safety in the workplace and fair working conditions are also mandatory.

More info: www.asc-aqua.org

NATURLAND WILD FISH

Sustainable fishing according to Naturland includes the ecological, social and economic dimensions. Ecological sustainability of a fishery means that both the stocks of the economically relevant species and the other components of the ecosystem are preserved. In addition, particularly high-quality, healthy fishery products are secured for the future, which are neither impaired by environmental influences nor by critical processing practices. Sustainability of a fishery in the social sense requires that the people employed find fair working conditions and that the other members of the community are not adversely affected in their living conditions. Sustainability of a fishery in the economic sense means that the marketing of fishery products promotes stable, mutually responsible relationships between the links in the value chain. The Naturland Wildfisch label indicates compliance with these principles.

NATURLAND

As a pioneer of organic aquaculture, Naturland has been offering an answer to the various problem areas of conventional aquaculture since 1996. Naturland's standards for organic aquaculture regulate farming according to organic principles. The focus of the standards is on

  • Careful selection of locations for the plants, protection of the surrounding ecosystems
  • Avoiding conflicts with other resource users (e.g. fishermen)
  • Animal-friendly stocking densities
  • No use of chemicals, e.g. to protect the net enclosures from algae growth
  • Use of natural remedies and treatment methods
  • Plant-based animal feed from organic farming
  • Fish meal and oil in feed from the processing of food fish in order to conserve marine resources (no fishing specifically for feed purposes)
  • No use of genetically modified organisms, neither for feed nor for stocking
  • Further processing according to ecological guidelines

 

FRIEND OF THE SEA

Friend of the Sea is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to healthy oceans. Friend of the Sea is the only program in the world that has only one label to identify products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture with reduced environmental impact. It is the world's leading fish label in terms of volume. There are clear FOS criteria and standards for recognition and certification.

EU-BIO-SIEGEL

The production of organic products in accordance with the criteria of the EU Organic Farming Regulation (as well as the farming associations Bioland, Naturland, etc.) focuses on the aspect of ecological sustainability: the preservation of crop rotations and the use of humus to promote soil fertility, the protection of groundwater, the promotion of natural biodiversity and the avoidance of the use of genetic engineering. Synthetic chemical pesticides and mineral nitrogen fertilizers are not used. Species-appropriate animal husbandry is also regulated. For example, antibiotics or performance enhancers are prohibited, while contact with conspecifics, exercise and fresh air are mandatory.

More info: www.bio-siegel.de

IRF

Sustainability seal based on FAO and ISO guidelines. Together with "Island Responsible Fisheries (IRF)", a special, natural certification program has been developed. The IRF program complies with all internationally applicable standards, guidelines and conventions. An independent certification authority (Global Trust Certification) is responsible for certification.

ASMI (ALASKA SEAFOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE)

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), based in Juneau, represents Alaska's fishing industry worldwide through generic marketing programs. The focus is on the idea of sustainable fishing, the protection of nature and the conservation of Alaska's wild fish stocks. The central principles are wild, natural, sustainable.

PRINCIPLES OF FISHING

WILD

Alaska stands for untouched, pristine nature. The northernmost state in the USA is surrounded by the rough waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. These clean oceans are home to numerous wild fish stocks, above all Alaska wild salmon and ecHter Alaska pollack.

NATURAL

In the waters around Alaska, there are over 40 marine protected areas with a total size of almost one million square nautical miles. Without the influence of humans, the fish here feed exclusively on natural food sources and grow up in their native habitat.

SUSTAINABLE

The protection of nature and its resources is a top priority for fisheries in Alaska and is officially enshrined in the state constitution. Strict regulation of catches and strict stock management ensure that the treasures of the oceans are preserved for the future.

To control this, the authorities recalculate the actual TAC (Total Allowable Catch) and the ABC (Allowable Biological Catch) each year. The TAC may not exceed the ABC and always remains well below this value in Alaska's fisheries. This ensures biological balance and keeps stocks healthy.

 

NORWEGIAN SEAFOOD COUNCIL

We are the world's largest joint representative of the Norwegian seafood industry. With a thousand years of fishing tradition, Norway is today the second largest seafood exporter in the world. Highest quality, strictest controls and exemplary sustainability are the pillars of our success. The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), founded in 1991 by the Ministry of Fisheries, has been tasked with communicating this uniqueness ever since. Every year, the NSC carries out a wide range of activities in the areas of information work, analysis, market monitoring and marketing. The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø, 600 km north of the Arctic Circle, and has offices in the 12 most important seafood markets, including Germany. The NSC is financed by a statutory levy on Norwegian fisheries.

IFS

IFS Food Higher Level / Cash & Carry and Wholesale Higher Level
The IFS Food Standard is a standard recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) for the auditing of food manufacturers. The focus here is on food safety and the quality of processes and products.
Advantages IFS:

  • IFS is all about process optimization for maximum quality & safety
  • Possibility to adapt the specifications to the company and implement them individually
  • Companies are increasingly focusing on quality, food safety and customer satisfaction
  • Competitive advantage
  • Customer loyalty
  • Strengthening customer confidence
  • Safeguarding the company's reputation as a manufacturer of safe and high-quality products
  • Better understanding between management with regard to products, procedures, rules, documentation, etc.
  • Definition and documentation of processes
  • Monitoring of compliance with food regulations is guaranteed
  • Reduction in the need for customer audits
  • High transparency
  • Continuous improvement process

 

The desire and demand for safety in the food sector is constantly increasing!
Consumers and authorities have high expectations of food quality and demand transparency and traceability!
Responsibility lies with all stages of the food chain.
IFS offers the possibility to document and fulfill the requirements!