SKIPPER’S BLOG: Flexing Its Mussels

Talk about your mussel-bound success stories!

It looks like Newfoundland mussel farmers and processors are about to reap some serious benefits as a result of having been certified by Global Trust Certification / SAI Global as having met the Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard.

That’s huge news, because it means Newfoundland and Labrador producers are the first to achieve this prestigious, and environmentally tough certification. Primary processing facilities Norlantic Processors Ltd. in Pleasantview processing Black Gold mussels, Allen’s Fisheries Ltd. in Benoit’s Cove processing Iceberg Select mussels, and Ocean Fresh Mussel Growers Ltd. in Herring Neck processing Big Blues mussels were certified to the Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard this week after an extensive audit process.

According to information released by the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA). “producers and processors had to meet the rigid requirements of the standard, a process to be repeated annually through on-site inspections by an accredited, independent third party auditor.”

We are committed to the highest quality standards in the aquaculture industry” said Juan Roberts, President of Badger Bay Mussel Farms Ltd. “Meeting this organic benchmark provides assurance to clients and consumers that Newfoundland Organic Mussels have been produced and processed in a sustainable, environmentally sound manner.”

“The mussel farming sector in Newfoundland and Labrador has had a long history of farming practices and management attitudes which respect the environment,” says Cyr Couturier, Executive Director of NAIA.

“The Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard was seen as a natural fit for the Newfoundland mussel sector to objectively demonstrate that their farming methods maintain the productivity and biodiversity of the marine environment surrounding the mussel leases” said Couturier. “Our farming practices are the most environmentally sustainable amongst Canadian producers” he added, “and the certification around this premium product is a testament to this effect”.