US-Farmed Barramundi Ranked “Best Choice” on Top 3 Sustainable Seafood Guides
Australis Aquaculture’s US-farmed barramundi has achieved the trifecta of being ranked ‘best’ on the top 3 consumer seafood guides.
Turners Falls, MA, November 24, 2008 – Australis Aquaculture’s US-farmed barramundi has achieved the highest ‘green’ ranking on The Blue Ocean Institute’s Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood. This is a major milestone, adding US-farmed barramundi’s ‘best choice for sustainability’ ranking to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guide, and Environmental Defense’s Seafood Selector (and thus achieving the ‘trifecta’ of appearing on the top three top consumer seafood guides).
Only 20 - 30 fish species worldwide qualify for the “best choice” ranking. This secures barramundi’s place as an elite yet approachable fish for American consumers who demand a superior taste, environmental responsibility, and health benefits from their fish.
Says Josh Goldman, Australis Managing Director, “We are honored that Australis’ US-farmed Barramundi has achieved this top ranking from science experts in the sustainable seafood community. This achievement recognizes Australis’ commitment to sustainability as the cornerstone of our brand, and reinforces our mission to be the standard bearer for healthy, delicious and responsibly-raised seafood.”
Blue Ocean Institute based its ranking on a number of factors, including operational risks, feed, pollution, risk to other species and ecological effects. Says Alan Duckworth, PhD and Research Scientist at Blue Ocean Institute, “We looked closely at US farmed barramundi and it scored exceedingly well across all categories, earning a total score of 3.45 out of 4. Australis’ farming operation in the U.S. appears to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment, efficient conversion of 'food to fish' and an innovative closed re-circulating system that recycles water, prevents fish escapes and disease, and reduces waste. Plus, chemicals like antibiotics or hormones are never used, so it’s a very clean fish. It really resolves all of the environmental issues in a major way.”
About Australis Aquaculture, Ltd.
Australis Aquaculture, Ltd. (ASX: AAQ) is an award-winning provider of healthy, sustainable seafood, marketed under the banner of The Better Fish®, Better Tasting, Better For You, Better For Our Environment. The Company spearheaded the introduction of barramundi as a growing culinary trend in North America, and offers a line of fresh and frozen barramundi to the retail and foodservice markets. Australis is a recognized leader in sustainable aquaculture through its pioneering practices in recirculating technology, and is expanding supply of its sustainable line via proprietary production and sourcing operations in Southeast Asia.
In 2007 Australis won the coveted ‘Australian Sustainability Award for the Environment’, and was a finalist in the Seafood Choices Alliance’s ‘Seafood Champion Award’. The company has played a role in dialogues between the aquaculture industry, major buyers and environmental NGO’s in an effort to develop performance standards to help reshape the industry.
For more information go to: www.TheBetterFish.com
About Blue Ocean Institute
Blue Ocean Institute, located in East Norwich, NY is the only marine conservation organization that uses science, art, and literature to inspire a deeper connection with the sea. The Institute translates scientific information into language people can understand and use to make better choices on behalf of the ocean.
In 2008, Blue Ocean Institute commenced a major outreach initiative to chefs and restaurateurs focused on sustainable seafood education.
For more information, see: www.blueocean.org.
