Italian Acipenser obtains Friend of the Sea certification for its sturgeon
16 March 2018_Newly acquired Italian company Acipenser Srl has been found compliant with Friend of the Sea standard for a number of species of farmed sturgeon: Acipenser baerii, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser naccari and two hybrid species, Acipenser baerii/Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, and Acipenser naccarii/Acipenser baerii. Caviar products resulting from the breeding are commercialized under Royal Food Caviar and Perluga brands.
The plant is located in Calvisano, a small town in the province of Brescia in Northern Italy and it consists of a 10 hectares land-based farm with large basins in concrete. Farms reproduce the natural conditions found in sturgeons’ native breeding grounds. The facilities are lined with a layer of river stone pebbles. The typical seasonal fluctuations in temperature and natural light conditions ensure that the sturgeons have a gradual and healthy growth.
According to Friend of the Sea aquaculture requirements, birds’ entanglement and fish escapes are prevented by means of appropriate grids with suitable size and texture and a management system in place implies an immediate implementation of corrective action. Farmed species cannot possibly reproduce in the wild and does not represent a danger for the local population. Moreover, fish are fed with GMO-free feed and no hormones are used.
“We are particularly proud of having obtained Friend of the Sea certification as a confirmation of our full engagement to environmental sustainability at international level” commented Carlo Dalla Rosa, Managing Director at Acipenser.
“Aquaculture is becoming more and more relevant economically and also as a way to preserve animal species and the environment. Acipenser’s compliance with our standard demonstrates that it is possible to grow a business and innovate in this sector while implementing sustainable practices” says Paolo Bray, Director of Friend of the Sea.
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