Certification
We have been deeply involved in the multi-stakeholder process of developing Aquaculture Stewardship Council standards for marine fish. ASC is recognized as having the most exacting global standards for aquaculture. We remain firmly committed to achieving certification from ASC and BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices), as verified by independent, third-party audits of our operations.
Environmental Responsibility:
From the company’s beginning, environmental responsibility has been a core tenet of The Kampachi Company. We start with native brood stock and raise our own eggs in a state-of-the-art land based hatchery. The young fish are then transferred to offshore pens in the clear waters of the Gulf of California, Baja California Sur, where they thrive in their natural environment until they reach harvest size in 10-12 months. The pens are located in deep water with strong currents, and regular testing ensures that there is no discernible impact on water or benthic quality. Research teams in Kona, Hawaii and La Paz, Baja work for continuous improvement in technology and fish welfare, to ensure that The Kampachi Company’s operations are among the most environmentally sound in the world.
Raised – Research and Innovation
We firmly believe that responsible offshore aquaculture offers immense opportunity for “softening mankind’s footprint on the seas”. We are pleased with our recent, rapid advances in how we work with our fish and our surrounding environment, but we will always be striving for continuous improvement in our practices. We therefore support research teams in both La Paz, in Baja, and in Kona, Hawaii. These teams actively seek and build partnerships with leading marine scientists to increase our understanding and advance our operations, in areas such as
- offshore technologies, to improve fish welfare, team safety and operational efficiency
- alternative feedstuffs, to reduce our reliance on forage fish fisheries, and to find more responsible, scalable sources of proteins and oils for our fish diets
- improved fish health, through better nutrition and more nurturing stock management
- selective breeding, using modern analytical tools to increase the power of traditional practices for improving growth rate, feed efficiency, fish health and product quality
There are also additional challenges which humankind must meet, if we are to responsibly feed 9 billion people, while also addressing impacts of ocean acidification, deforestation, and global climate change. We therefore also support research teams who are working on these challenges, and will feature their findings here. (include hyperlink on word “here” to Research Reports section.)