In the auditorium of the Santo Tomás University of Puerto Montt and with the presence of academic authorities, students and company executives, led by the People and Corporate Affairs Manager, Josefina Moreno, Australis Seafoods presented its seventh Sustainability Report, which It gives an account of the progress that the company has promoted in this matter.
At a general level, during the last year, the company was focused mainly on the pillars: responsible operations and products and good governance. In this sense, the document emphasizes the strengthening of the Compliance Policy, a model that seeks to reaffirm the organization’s commitment to the highest ethical and governance standards.
“Reporting our results in this matter for the seventh time demonstrates Australis’ strong commitment to sustainability in all its dimensions. In addition, it reinforces our commitment to transparency and compliance with our collaborators, with the communities where we are located and with environmental regulations,” said Josefina Moreno.
Among the main milestones of 2023, it stands out that the company achieved a significant decrease in the use of antibiotics, going from 145.56 to 80.47 grams per ton produced (LWE), in accordance with the methodology used by Global Salmon Initiative (GSI), being the lowest figure in its history, which positions it as one of the companies with the lowest consumption of these pathogen controllers in the industry.
In line with the above, last year, Australis began harvesting antibiotic-free fish in the Magallanes region, which, according to the company, responds to the growing consumer demand for more sustainable foods. At the end of this year, the company expects to harvest 15,000 tons of fish under this regime.
“This decrease is due to the fact that we have implemented specific measures to reduce the use of antibiotics in our production chain, as well as the promotion of responsible practices. In this sense, our commitment is to continue working with our suppliers and partners to ensure that our products are produced in a responsible and sustainable manner, thus minimizing our impact on the environment and promoting animal health and well-being,” commented production manager of the company, Cristián Sauterel.
Another relevant result was that in 2023 they managed to obtain 72% of the harvested biomass certification. Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the most rigorous in the industry, which guarantees responsible operation and product quality.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Australis offset 100% of the electrical energy used throughout its production chain, guaranteeing that all electricity comes from non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE). “In line with the Sustainability Strategy, for the second consecutive year we managed to mitigate our carbon footprint, through the IREC certification, which guarantees the renewable origin of 100% of the energy consumed in scope 2. This responds to the commitment we have as a company with sustainable development, the responsible use of energy and the environment in which we are immersed,” highlighted the Deputy Manager of Sustainability, Roxana Peña.
On the other hand, in 2023 Australis sealed an alliance with the University of Magallanes, to support the development of two research projects: “Seabird wealth in Patagonian fjords” and “Chilean dolphin in Patagonian fjords in the Magallanes region.” This with the aim of contributing to the generation of scientific content, which allows for better quality information for public and private decision-making regarding aquaculture.
The complete report can be reviewed at the following link: https://www.australis-seafoods.com/sustainability/
Photography: B2B Media Group
