As part of Bakkafrost's integrated value chain, Havsbrún is also part of the Faroese salmon farming company's commitment to responsible aquaculture from feed to fork.
Photo: Bakkafrost.
Faroes-headquartered salmon farming company Bakkafrost recently announced that its feed subsidiary, Havsbrún, has obtained the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Feed Standard certification, which the company described as a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainability and, more broadly, an important milestone in sustainable aquaculture.
Launched in May 2025 and mandatory on all certified farms from November 2025, the ASC Feed Standard complements the ASC Farm Standard, which regulates responsible practices on aquaculture farms. From now on, all ASC-certified farms must demonstrate that they source feed only from facilities with this certification.
Developed in collaboration with experts, NGOs, and industry leaders, the ASC Feed Standard is an internationally recognized benchmark that sets rigorous criteria to ensure that feed producers operate responsibly, minimizing environmental impacts, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring fair working conditions.
The strict requirements for ASC-certified feed apply not only to producers, but this rigor in environmental and social responsibility applies to the entire feed supply chain: from raw material sourcing to production and traceability.
Therefore, Bakkafrost emphasized that this certification for Havsbrún reflects its ongoing commitment to responsible feed production and sustainable aquaculture practices, and represents a key step toward its strategy of having all its salmon ASC certified.
In its statement, the Faroese salmon farming company emphasized that at Bakkafrost, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, hence the importance of this achievement, which ensures that every part of their value chain meets the highest international standards of sustainability and transparency.
"This certification of Havsbrún is a major step towards our goal of having all our salmon ASC-certified," said Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost. "It demonstrates the strength of our integrated value chain and our commitment to responsible aquaculture - from feed to fork."
The company also said that Havsbrún is a key part of the Bakkafrost Group, which, by producing high-quality feed for its farmed salmon, plays a central role in supporting a sustainable food system. "The ASC certification demonstrates Havsbrún's leadership and commitment to advancing the sustainability of aquaculture feed globally," the release claimed.
Bakkafrost's feed subsidiary thus joins the wave of feed companies that, as the deadline for the transition to ASC-certified feed approached, have secured certification for their feed mills, ranging from salmon producers with their own feed divisions, such as Mowi, to feed manufacturers such as BioMar, Alltech, and Skretting.
The ASC Feed Standard certification for Havsbrún also means that the journey towards sustainable aquaculture has reached the Faroe Islands after already stopping in other countries such as Norway, Scotland, Spain, France, Germany, Finland, Mexico, Chile, or the U.S.