Interview: Ygnve Myhre, CEO, SalMar, Norway on the Global Salmon Initiative

The global farmed salmon industry has launched a major industry-led sustainability initiative.

The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) unites 15 global farmed salmon producers committed to greater industry cooperation and transparency, in order to achieve significant and continuous progress in industry sustainability.

Together, these 15 companies represent 70 percent the global salmon industry, meaning the initiative could have a real impact on salmon aquaculture.

The major salmon producing countries of Chile, Norway, Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Canada are all represented in the GSI.

The GSI will achieve its aim through global collaboration and research, pooling of resources and sharing knowledge.

Currently the GSI is focusing on biosecurity, feed and nutrition and meeting industry standards. 

International Aquafeed’s Alice Neal spoke to Ygnve Myhre, CEO, SalMar, Norway about what the initiative hopes to achieve.

Why has the salmon industry decided to take to lead on sustainability issues?

Sustainability is a key priority for our industry. With increasing demand for high quality protein we need to ensure industry sustainability to meet this growing demand. While we have been making attempts at sustainability, salmon farming is a young industry and we recognise that more needs to be done and we can do better. 

We know it will take time and will be a continuous process, but through the GSI we have committed to the significant improvement that is needed. This initiative is about significant improvement in sustainability. It is not about satisfaction with the status quo.

What’s the advantage of an industry-led initiative?

The GSI acknowledges that the industry credibility depends upon significant improvement in a unified manner, as we are only as good as our worst performer. Through the GSI, we can start to make significant changes where they are needed most. We will work to ensure that knowledge, technology and best practice is shared to help each other meet our goals. This is the first initiative of its kind to unite 70 percent of the industry across a number of regions.

How is the GSI different from other initiatives?
What is different is that as the GSI, the companies have committed to helping each other towards improved sustainability. It’s about cooperation, not competition.

How did you go about setting it up?
The initial impetus for GSI came from a meeting in 2011 which was attended by a number of CEOs. At that meeting, we heard about significant progress other industries had made in sustainability by working together. That group of CEOs decided to meet again and invite other CEOs and in due course it was agreed to form GSI.

Why did you choose ASC as your preferred accreditation body?
GSI encourages all companies to meet the highest possible standards and this is not limited to one standard. Following a review of a variety of standards, it became clear that ASC stood out as clear aim for a number of companies and this should be the intention of the GSI. The GSI collectively decided to work with ASC and make this the framework for monitoring our progress.

How are you going to source sustainable feed materials?
The key is to find other sources that do not put further stress on marine resources. The GSI is looking to areas such as utilizing by-products and are working closely with the FAO to assess availability of these resources, and to review the potential of additional alternative resources.

Can salmon farming ever be truly sustainable?
This initiative is about significant improvement in sustainability and is built on the mantra of continuous improvement. Already the companies are involved in working together to share expertise and improve our environmental performance. The GSI is committed to meeting its objectives and will review its areas of focus on a regular basis to ensure it is working to improve the areas which pose the biggest challenge to industry sustainability.

Through global collaboration and research, pooling of resources and sharing knowledge, the GSI will aim to make significant improvements across the industry in terms of social responsibility, environmental impact and social contributions.

The 15 companies involved represent a high proportion of farmed salmon production. Do you envisage other companies joining in the future?

The GSI is open to all farmed salmon producers who share its vision and are willing to work to achieve its objectives.

Read our report of the GSI launch.

Ygnve Myhre, CEO, SalMar, Norway