AN international body for the world's salmon industry will be launched today.
The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI), to be announced in Norway, will be headed by 15 leading farmed salmon farm producers from across the world.
About 70% of farmed salmon producers across the globe will be represented by the organisation.
The GSI companies, from Scotland, Canada, Chile and Norway, intend to develop the sustainability of their industry by boosting co-operation and transparency.
Alf-Helge Aarskog, co-chair of GSI, explained the new organisation would help solve the problems that arise from the growing demand for salmon products around the world.
It will also seek to address the concerns from environmentalists about the impact of salmon farms on wild fish numbers. He said: "It's always a challenge to balance increasing demand and sustainability, but by focusing on (the) best practice between the producers by being transparent and report on what we do, and also improve on our practices, I think we can do both.
"I think it's important for the public to understand the tremendous commitment these 15 companies are putting in to actually make a change in the way we operate and to make things better."
The GSI will focus on three areas of sustainability to improve on: reducing environmental impact, increasing social contribution and maintaining economic growth. As a priority, the challenges of biosecurity, sourcing feed and meeting industry standards will be addressed.
Dr Stewart McLelland, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Company and member of GSI, said: "It's really about a philosophy of co-operation and really wanting to work together to improve our environmental sustainability."
The GSI will work closely with industry partners including the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations with the aim to expand sustainable aquaculture as a source of protein for the world's population.
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