Sustainability
As one of the world’s largest seafood companies, we have a responsibility to ensure that the seafood industry is not only profitable but also meets societal needs and requirements.
Our planet is becoming warmer. Going forward, we must continue to reduce the impact food production has on the climate and on our limited natural resources.
The planet is not getting any bigger, but our population is. The global population is expected to grow to over 9.5 billion people by 2050, this is almost 2 billion more people than in 2020.
To meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) we need to rethink current food systems and find a new approach, which ensures global food security, positively contributes to human health, and reduces strains on our environment. A larger share of our food must come from the ocean, from aquaculture.
We believe that responsible aquaculture and salmon farming can be a part of the solution, and Cermaq has the ambition to contribute by producing more high-quality healthy seafood.
Read more about our sustainability approach below.
Cermaq’s strategy is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we focus on the 5 goals where we can have the largest impact.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
In a growing world population with challenges related to malnutrition, hunger and obesity, farmed salmon may provide a solution to the growing demand for protein and encourage healthy diets.
Farmed salmon is a healthy food choice and is rich in nutrients such as omega 3, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
Salmon farming contributes to rural jobs and local value creation. According to the Blue Food Assessment, fisheries and aquaculture is supporting the livelihoods of 800 million people. Salmon farming has a small, but important share of this as driver of research and innovation for sustainable solutions.
SDG12: Responsible consumption and production
Farmed salmon is an efficient food source, providing a high content of multiple healthy nutrients with a small ecological footprint compared with other farmed animal proteins. Farmed salmon has also a relatively small freshwater footprint.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The production of food accounts for 24 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. Salmon farming has a small carbon footprint compared to other farmed animal proteins.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Our salmon farming depends on healthy oceans. We are responsible for our impact on life below water. Our aim is to avoid irreversible impacts, minimizing impacts and managing these impacts within the acceptance levels defined by regulations in the region where we operate. In parallel the salmon farming sector may offer knowledge and technology transfer to other aquaculture areas to enhance and encourage a sustainable use of the ocean in the rise of the blue economy.