In the context of Aqua, Paolo Bray will provide an update of FOS certification programme, explaining the procedures and giving evidence of all the benefits the certification entails.
Mr Bray’s speech is scheduled on the 2 of September within the “Standards & Certifications” session.
Friend of the Sea certifies aquaculture products since the very beginning of its activity. Friend of the Sea certification strict requirements guarantee that farmed fish and seafood carrying FOS logo have been reared and harvested respecting the critical habitats, not damaging the surrounding eco-system and with no use of harmful antifoulants and growth hormones.
First FOS certifications of farmed fish date back to 2006 when the first Shetland Islands salmon plant and Italian seabream and rainbow trouts were approved. From then on the variety of species and the number of certified products originated from aquaculture activities, all over the world, has notably increased.
Now 65 per cent of all FOS certified products are farmed and a further increase is likely predictable.
The most certified species are mussels and shrimps, followed by salmon, trout, seabream and seabass. FOS certified farmed products originate from almost 50 countries worldwide, lead by Spain, Italy, Norway, South America and Australia.