Sri Lanka's first ASC-certified shrimp farm aims for carbon-neutral status

Sri Lanka's Erukkalampidy shrimp farm, operated by Taprobane Frozen Foods, has achieved certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), becoming the nation's first farm to earn this recognition, as it aims to sell climate-neutral shrimp from the farm by next year, SeafoodSource reported.

Taprobane Seafoods chief executive officer, Tim O'Reilly, has ambitious goals for the farm, with plans to have all 1,000 acres of the facility certified to either ASC or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards by the end of 2024.

The company's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality includes carbon-insetting through certified reforestation projects, with a focus on mangrove replanting and utilising rooftop solar systems, adhering to ISO 14064-1:2018 and ISO 14067:2018 standards. This effort underscores their dedication to creating a sustainable world and ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.

O'Reilly expressed his gratitude for the crucial assistance received from ProClime's Kavin Kandasamy in obtaining the ASC certification. The development of in-house knowledge and resources has enabled Taprobane to embark on various sustainability initiatives. These initiatives include launching a full Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment for its blue swimming crab in 2024.

Taprobane Seafoods is the leading seafood company in Sri Lanka, specialising in vannamei and monodon shrimp farming and processing, as well as operating a blue swimming crab fishing and processing operation. In addition, the company provides aquaculture products and services to shrimp farmers in Sri Lanka through Taprobane Aqua Services. The company has received investments from the Atman Group and formed a joint venture with Seafood Group AS.

In June 2023, Taprobane signed an agreement with Direct Source Seafood, a crab and shrimp importer based in Bellevue, Washington, USA, to produce, market, and sell its products in the United States. The company's collaboration with Urk, Netherlands-based Sea Fresh aims to acquire a vannamei shrimp farm in Karikattiya, Sri Lanka, with plans to apply for ASC certification to distribute farmed shrimp in the European retail market.

Moreover, in August, Taprobane announced a US$20 million partnership with Alkaram Textile Mills and Thai Union Director Narin Niruttinanon to develop a vannamei shrimp farming project in Dhabeji, Pakistan, as part of the joint venture Indian Ocean Foods. The project includes the establishment of 300 ponds, a hatchery, a processing facility, and a feed mill.

-      SeafoodSource