Sustainability in Everything We Do
E1 Climate Change | E3 Water and Marine Resources
SalMar is committed to ensuring that all fish feed is produced responsibly, without contributing to deforestation or environmental degradation. This policy safeguards forests, biodiversity, and ecosystems by requiring that feed ingredients are sourced from certified, deforestation- and conversion-free production. It also promotes responsible sourcing throughout SalMar’s value chain, including efforts to reduce reliance on wild fish stocks and enhance sustainability in feed production.
This policy applies to all feed used by SalMar across all business areas and throughout the entire supply chain. It covers both terrestrial and marine ingredients, including plant-based components that may pose deforestation risks and marine ingredients sourced from wild fish stocks. All suppliers, sourcing areas, and farms involved in SalMar’s operations are subject to these requirements.
Although fish feed production is the only relevant sector for this policy to date, SalMar will uphold its deforestation and responsible sourcing commitment in any future sector that may fall under this scope.
The Board of Directors holds ultimate responsibility for SalMar’s strategy, including feed strategy and deforestation-related commitments. The Senior management approves and oversees policy implementation. The feed department ensures supplier compliance with certification standards and maintains full traceability of feed ingredients.
Feed suppliers must adhere to SalMar’s deforestation-free and responsible sourcing standards and ensure compliance throughout their own supply chains. Ongoing dialogue and collaboration are essential to achieving these objectives.
Deforestation risks and sourcing practices are continuously monitored through active engagement with feed suppliers. This includes reviewing supplier risk assessments, tracking progress on commitments, and verifying traceability. SalMar requires traceability of all soy down to the farm level, and all other ingredients to the country or region of origin. The cut-off year for deforestation is 2008 aligned with the ProTerra standard. Performance, certification coverage, and progress are disclosed annually in SalMar’s sustainability reporting.
The following sections outline the Group’s most material impacts, risks and opportunities, along with strategic targets established.
Use of certified marine feed ingredients
SalMar requires feed suppliers to purchase fish meal and fish oil certified under schemes such as MSC, MarinTrust, or through credible Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), to ensure that raw materials originate from well‑managed fisheries operating within science‑based quotas. This approach reduces pressure on wild fish stocks, supports long‑term stock health, and strengthens transparency and traceability in the marine ingredient supply chain.
Soy
SalMar’s feed sourcing practices are designed to prevent deforestation and ecosystem conversion. All soy used in feed is certified deforestation-free. This help protect biodiversity and promote sustainable sourcing.
Access to affordable marine feed ingredients
SalMar recognizes the risk of limited access to affordable and sustainably sourced feed ingredients. Overreliance on wild fish stocks may expose the company to ecological, regulatory, and reputational risks, particularly if sourcing is not aligned with certified fisheries and quota-based management.
Land-use change in feed farming
Plant-based ingredients such as soy and other crops carry risks related to deforestation, land-use change, and biodiversity loss if not responsibly sourced. These risks are actively assessed and managed through strict supplier requirements and certification schemes.
Reduce dependency on wild fish stocks
Reducing the dependency on wild fish stocks and soy creates opportunities for innovation and improved sustainability. SalMar invests in research and development to explore novel feed ingredients, increase the use of trimmings and by-products, and develop sustainable, novel feed ingredients. The Fish Forage Dependency Ratio (FFDR) is used to monitor progress and guide strategic decisions.
Feed innovation reducing effects on ecosystems
Supplier engagement and innovation are key to building a resilient and sustainable feed supply chain. Research into alternative protein sources and sustainable production methods for plant-based ingredients further reduces environmental impact and strengthens long-term resource security. Innovation in feed farming could contribute to deriving new sourcing methods or new feed compositions that reduce the biodiversity and ecosystems impacts
SalMar’s target is to ensure that all feed ingredients are responsibly sourced and fully deforestation-free. All feed must be certified by ProTerra or an equivalent standard, with a strict 2008 cut-off date for deforestation and conversion. SalMar has achieved both gross and net zero deforestation commitments and aims to maintain these standards. Long-term targets include reducing reliance on wild fish stocks and increasing the use of alternative and novel feed ingredients to strengthen sustainability across the value chain.
To implement these commitments, SalMar ensures that all soy used in feed is sourced from certified, deforestation risk-free suppliers. Reliance on wild fish stocks is reduced through the use of trimmings, by-products, and novel feed ingredients. The degree of certification for both marine ingredients and soy, along with the Fish Forage Dependency Ratio (FFDR), are used as key metrics to translate strategic targets into measurable actions.