Recipients of the inaugural ASC Nordic Awards. From left: Josefina Söderlund Svahn, Country Commercial Food manager, IKEA Svenska Försäljning AB; Kristin Hurum, Director of HR, Sustainability, Quality, Cermaq Norway; and Jussi Kosomaa, Business Director, Nordic Trout.
Photo: ASC.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has hosted the first-ever Nordic Awards during the Nordic Seafood Summit in Göteborg on January 22, 2025,
The awards, rewarding achievements across three categories - Producer of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year - recognised the contributions of ASC-certified partners in the Nordic region, applauding what the ASC referred to as their "leadership and innovation in responsible aquaculture while working towards a sustainable seafood industry".
Cermaq received the ASC accolade of "Producer of the Year" 2024 for its groundbreaking iFarm project, which utilises artificial intelligence to improve fish welfare and minimise environmental impact. iFarm technology enables personalised care for individual fish, early disease detection, and targeted treatment, reducing environmental risks. The ASC said that Cermaq’s initiatives align with the ASC’s mission to promote sustainable aquaculture and include a pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by 35% by 2030.
"We are very proud to receive this recognition from ASC. We continuously work on solutions to improve fish welfare and enhance sustainability in our production, with ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Kristin Hurum, Director of Sustainability, Quality, and HR at Cermaq Norway. "The iFarm technology, developed in close collaboration with our partner BioSort, represents an important step toward creating more sustainable aquaculture with better fish welfare and environmental adaptation."
The other nominees for the 2024 "Producer of the Year" were Bremnes Seashore, nominated for achieving 100% ASC certification across all facilities in 2024, and Firda Seafood Group, nominated for certifying eight additional facilities in 2024, ensuring all operational sites are now ASC certified.
Meanwhile, the award for top retailer went to IKEA, recognised for its commitment to exclusively selling ASC-certified salmon and ensuring traceability through its Chain of Custody certification. These efforts reflect IKEA’s dedication to providing responsibly sourced seafood to its customers worldwide.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition for our commitment to sustainably sourced seafood. This award reaffirms our dedication to preserving our oceans and ensuring a healthier future for generations to come," said Karin van Oost, Sustainability Leader Food, Inter IKEA Group.
The runners-up for the retail category were Axfood Sverige, a leading Swedish retailer distinguished by its ambitious goals for sustainable seafood, and Rema 1000 Denmark, which sells an extensive range of ASC-labelled products, with 100% of its fresh salmon ASC certified.
Nominees in the "Newcomer of the Year" category included Telemarkrøye AS, the first firm in Scandinavia to certify an Arctic char production facility, and Noray Seafood, the world’s first land-based biofloc shrimp farm to achieve ASC certification, introduced to the Nordic market through Ocean Collective.
However, the top spot ultimately went to Nordic Trout Sverige, the first ASC-certified fish farm in Sweden. With a history dating back to the 1980s, the company produces 10,000 metric tonnes of rainbow trout and roe annually across 32 facilities in Sweden, Åland, and Finland.
Jussi Kosomaa, Chief Business Officer at Nordic Trout, described achieving ASC certification at the company's fish farm at Lake Foxen as "an important step on its sustainability journey", and said the Nordic Trout team viewed the award "as a recognition of the hard work our staff at the Foxen fish farm in Töcksfors have accomplished."
“For the company, this is an important milestone on our journey toward more sustainable fish farming, as well as toward establishing Swedish-farmed rainbow trout as a staple food for both everyday meals and special occasions among Swedish consumers. The Swedish people deserve access to sustainably farmed Swedish fish," he added.
The ASC celebrated notable progress in Nordic countries during 2024, including a 25% increase in ASC-labelled product availability and certification of additional farms, contributing to a total of 801,000 metric tonnes of ASC-certified seafood produced in the region. Norway accounts for around 50% of global salmon production, with approximately 40% ASC certified.
“The ASC Nordic Awards are our way of recognising the outstanding work and initiatives undertaken by our partners across the Nordics over the past year. The award categories reflect the diversity of our stakeholders, from producers to suppliers and retailers, showcasing the entire value chain in action," said Laetitia Rosing, Regional Manager of ASC Nordics, in an ASC press release.
ASC CEO Chris Ninnes praised the winners, noting their contributions to sustainable seafood and global food security.
“Each of the winners and nominees of the ASC Nordic Awards has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing responsible seafood farming practices in the Nordic region. Their dedication not only helps to protect our oceans and ecosystems but also sets an inspiring example for others in the industry," Ninnes said.
“Sustainable seafood is critical for the future of global food security as it plays a vital role in feeding a growing population while ensuring the health of our planet. It also provides important livelihoods for many, often in locations where alternatives are limited," he continued.
“The growth we’ve seen in ASC certification and labelled products in this market is a testament to the hard work and innovation of all our partners. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your invaluable contributions to a more sustainable future," Ninnes added.
