Tasmanian shellfish producer Spring Bay Seafoods certified by Friend of the Sea

Triabunna, Tasmania, Australia-based Spring Bay Seafood, which operates deep-water marine farms specializing in mussels, has obtained certification from Friend of the Sea.

The certification covers the company’s farming of blue mussels, which won a gold medal in the 2019 Australian Food Awards. The certification also covers Spring Bay’s end processing, packing, and export operations. Spring Bay exports to markets in Asia and the Middle East. With this certification, Spring Bay Seafoods products can display the Friend of the Sea eco-label. 

“It’s been a pleasure working with a company so dedicated to sustainability and who was first certified by us in 2009,” Friend of the Sea Executive Director Paulo Bray said. “Spring Bay demonstrates that it is possible to apply sustainable principles to deep water marine farming.” 

Spring Bay’s commercial-scale mussel hatcheries raise rope-cultured mussels on sub-surface suspended long-lines. The company’s operations cover the entire production cycle raising mussels from seed. Spring Bay’s operations have been certified organic since 2011.

Friend of the Sea, a project of World Sustainability Organization, rewards sustainable practices in fisheries, aquaculture, fishmeal and omega-3 fish oil with a certification that allows companies to market their products with the Friend of the Sea eco-label.

Photo courtesy of Spring Bay Seafood