PORTLAND, Ore. – The Pacific Seafood Group, a family owned seafood company based in Portland, Ore., is pleased to announce that their Pacific Aquaculture Steelhead Farm on the Columbia River in Washington State has received Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification. This is the first and only Salmon/Steelhead farm to be BAP certified in the U.S.
The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards address environmental and social responsibility, animal welfare, food safety and traceability in a voluntary certification program for aquaculture facilities. BAP certification defines the most important elements of responsible aquaculture and provides quantitative guidelines by which to evaluate adherence to those practices.
John Bielka, Pacific Aquaculture General Manager, says of this accomplishment, “Our team is extremely thrilled to receive the GAA (Global Aquaculture Alliance) certification. It demonstrates that we are living out our company vision of “providing the healthiest protein on the planet while promoting sustainable practices.” Company CEO and owner, Frank Dulcich, adds, “As always, I am proud of our team members and their constant pursuit of excellence. John and his team have done an outstanding job in reaching this goal. As a company we are continually striving to improve upon best practices.”
Pacific Seafood purchased the Steelhead Farm, located on the Columbia River in Nespelem, WA on the Colville Nation, in 2008. Since then Pacific has invested substantially to upgrade pens and facilities with plans for further expansion. The annual harvest has increased from 2 million pounds per year to over 8 million per year.
Steelhead (trout), Oncorhynchus mykiss, is indigenous to the Columbia River and characterized by its red flesh from natural pigments, rich flavor and extremely high content of Omega 3 oils. Pacific’s Columbia River Steelhead is antibiotic, hormone and pesticide free.
About Pacific Seafood
Pacific Seafood Group is a West Coast seafood processing company that launched in 1941 as a small, fresh seafood retail operation in Portland, Ore. that is still serving customers to this day. Over the years, the family-owned business expanded to become a vertically integrated seafood processing and distributing company to meet customers’ needs and a growing market.
Pacific Seafood processes seafood products from Alaska to Mexico, has facilities in seven Western states and participates in the global seafood trade market. It is a member of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association and is active in promoting a healthy and sustainable seafood industry by supporting fisheries awarded Marine Stewardship Council eco-labels. Pacific Seafood is under the leadership of Frank Dulcich, the founder’s namesake and grandson.
Source: The Pacific Seafood Group