MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verlasso® salmon today became the first and only ocean-raised farmed Atlantic salmon to receive the “Good Alternative” buy ranking from the Monterey Bay Aquarium® Seafood Watch® program. Verlasso received the Good Alternative, or yellow, ranking as a result of its participation in the new Seafood Watch® External Assessment Model, which provides aquaculture and fishery operations the opportunity to receive a ranking by going through a rigorous evaluation with a third-party assessor.
“Verlasso is devoted to finding comprehensive solutions for salmon aquaculture’s historic challenges,” said Scott Nichols, Verlasso director. “We are deeply gratified by Seafood Watch’s recognition of our efforts. We have collaborated with conservation leaders to help us on our journey to raise the best salmon with sustainable practices. The Good Alternative ranking is an exciting validation of our achievement.”
Among the farming practices that enabled Verlasso to earn the Seafood Watch® buy ranking:
- Verlasso has an industry-leading fish in fish out (FIFO) ratio for both fish oil and fish meal
- Verlasso salmon require 75 percent fewer wild-caught feeder fish than traditionally farmed salmon
- Verlasso salmon are raised at half the pen density of traditionally farmed salmon
- Verlasso follows a long fallowing cycle that gives the waters time to rejuvenate fully
- Each Verlasso fish is traceable to the farm where it was raised through a gill tag QR code
“The Seafood Watch assessment of Verlasso’s hatcheries, farms, processing plants and management took 16 months,” said Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, director of Seafood Watch®. “Based on the extensive data we collected, which was vetted internally and by external peer reviewers, we’re confident that Verlasso is raising Atlantic salmon with environmentally responsible practices.”
“We’re proud to support the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s efforts to engage producers, consumers, businesses and chefs to foster the sustainable seafood movement,” Nichols added. “Seafood Watch is the best known, most trusted source in North America for information on environmentally responsible seafood choices. We’re proud to share Verlasso’s buy ranking with our loyal customers and the many consumers, retailers and chefs who have relied on Seafood Watch recommendations since 1999.”
Seafood Watch® generates seafood recommendations and scientific reports that allow consumers and businesses to make more environmentally responsible choices. For more information on MBA Seafood Watch®, visit www.montereybayaquarium.com/seafoodwatch.
For more information about Verlasso, including information on where to buy Verlasso salmon and Verlasso Smoked Salmon, visit www.verlasso.com. Or, join the conversation on the Verlasso® Conversations blog, on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @VerlassoSalmon, or sign up for the Verlasso e-newsletter.
About Verlasso
Verlasso®, the world’s first provider of harmoniously raised fish, is the first and only ocean-raised farmed Atlantic salmon to receive the “Good Alternative” buy ranking from the Monterey Bay Aquarium® Seafood Watch® program. Committed to continuous improvement in its aquaculture practices, Verlasso works in concert with some of the world’s leading thinkers to sustain people, fish and the planet. Verlasso was recently recognized by Seafood International magazine as a “Best New Food of 2011”, and as a “Top Food Trend of 2012” by Specialty Food magazine. Verlasso salmon is also available from coast to coast via retailers and restaurants and direct-to-retail partnerships. If you would like more information about Verlasso, contact us at info@verlasso.com, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @VerlassoSalmon, or sign up for the Verlasso e-newsletter.
Verlasso® is a brand and trademark of AquaChile. AquaChile and DuPont formed a collaboration that blends the collective innovation and aquaculture expertise of the companies to identify how to raise fish sustainably to provide nutritious protein for a growing population.
