The first group of small-scale mussel producers, now ASC certified, alongside a second group working toward certification by the end of 2026, led by Verónica Vivar of the St. Andrews Multisite Certification initiative.
(Courtesy: St. Andrews)
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has confirmed that St. Andrews has become the first mussel producer in Chile to achieve ASC multisite certification with a management system (MS with IMS).
This distinction covers seven mussel farms within its operation, spanning 1,500 hectares of cultivation and producing approximately 60,000 tonnes of mussels annually, making it one of the world's largest mussel producers.
One of the main features valued by the ASC MS with IMS certification is sustainability practices, along with the optimization of operations and cost reduction. All of this also contributes to respecting the environment, the producers, and the communities involved in the business.
"St. Andrews has reached an impressive milestone that demonstrates its deep commitment to sustainable aquaculture, responsible sourcing, community engagement, and the integration of small producers into the ASC programme," expressed ASC Programme Assurance Director Efrain Calderon.
Also, Regional Manager at St. Andrews, Eduardo Ferrari, said: "This achievement demonstrates that sustainability depends on commitment, not on size. A big company can grow alongside its suppliers without losing its humanity or its connection to the community."
According to data provided by ASC, Chile is the world's largest exporter of mussels, with 100,000 tonnes of finished product annually and cultivating around 400,000 tonnes of mussels. The only country that surpasses it in production is China, although it exports less.