Local abalone fishing firm Chungsanbada in Wando, South Jeolla Province, is seeking to acquire the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification for the first time in Korea, in a move to have its sea environment conservation efforts recognized.

The ASC, founded in 2010 by World Wide Fund for Nature and Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative, is an independent nonprofit organization that aims to become the world’s leading certification and labeling program for responsibly farmed seafood. The certification is only given to businesses that follow sustainable and strict environmentally friendly production rules.

As of this year, a total of 224 aquaculture farms around the world were certified with the ASC, with none in Korea. Some 120 aqua farms from different parts of the world currently are under the screening for the certification.

In Korea, Chungsanbada is eyeing to become the first Korean company to acquire the certification. With a goal to win it by early next year, the company is to undergo the certification screening next month.

Having a credible certification is crucial for the company, the Chungsanbada chief stressed.

“Although the quality of Korean abalones is top-tier, (the company) had difficulties in promoting the product due to lack of awareness and no quality verification system. I thought it was surely essential to have a globally trusted screening (of the product),” Chungsanbada CEO Wie Ji-yeon said.

In order to acquire the certification, the company has put efforts into keeping the farms clean and providing transparent information about farmers when exporting the abalones to Japan. By doing so, the company has promoted minimizing environmental damage and keeping the farmed fish market transparent. It has also worked on improving work conditions for farmers, the company said.

As part the ASC-seeking moves, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with WWF Korea last month on carrying out various activities that would raise the awareness on conserving the marine ecosystem.

“As the quantity and low price of seafood were prioritized amid the rising number of aqua farms, the risk of polluting and damaging the environment grew,” Wie said.

In the past two decades, the number of farmed fish raised for consumption has soared by seven times, with 58 percent making up the entire market, according to WWF Korea.

Amid growing public calls for strict rules for managing aqua farms around the globe, the WWF has recommended that restaurants and customers purchase only the farmed fish that are certified with the ASC.

The Chungsanbada CEO stressed that more local businesses should participate in the move for the good of all -- especially conglomerates.

“I believe it is right for the conglomerates to pay attention to the ASC certification and take part in the move in order to expand ASC influence and to truly conserve the marine environment,” said Wie.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)