Tasmanian salmon producer Tassal nets ABA100 sustainability award

A TASMANIAN salmon producer has opened itself up for third-party scrutiny to snare a national award.

Tasmanian salmon producer Tassal has received an Australian Business Award (ABA) for Sustainability. Tassal’s Head of Sustainability, Linda Sams on the Hobart waterfront

A TASMANIAN salmon producer has opened itself up for third-party scrutiny to snare a national award for sustainability.

Tassal has won the Australian Business Award for Sustainability, which is judged against international performance standards.

Tassal’s head of sustainability Linda Sams said it was possibly the first time a food producer had won the accolade, which last year went to waste disposal giant Veolia.

The gong follows a recent Senate inquiry into the environmental impact of the state’s $500m salmon industry.

MORE: SALMON FARMERS UNDER SCRUTINY

“We are looking forward to next week’s release of the Senate inquiry (findings) into salmon farming and will be reading the findings carefully,” Ms Sams said today.

“The award is recognition of a company that aims to be transparent and willing to let a third party judge operations.

“We still aim to continue to lead sustainable aquaculture production in Australia, with all our products meeting best practice environmentally-responsible standards.”

Ms Sams said the company had made significant progress in the sustainability space during the past four years.

“The company is not being complacent about future work,” she said.

Tassal chief executive officer and managing director Mark Ryan said the award was timely.

“Underpinning our goal to minimise our impact on the environment is our Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, which has now been achieved across all our farms. We are the first salmon company in the world to achieve this,” he said.

Australian Business Awards program director Tara Johnston said ABA100 winners demonstrated innovative, enterprising and technologically advanced business initiatives and products.

Employing more than 950 direct staff, Tassal operates two hatcheries, six marine farming locations, three processing facilities and has two retail outlets.