Regal Springs Champions Global Sustainability in Aquaculture – Launching Ambitious Initiatives to Slash Carbon Emissions on World Fisheries Day
In celebration of World Fisheries Day, Regal Springs, a global pioneer in premium, responsibly farmed tilapia, is leading the way in carbon emission reduction for the aquaculture industry.
Regal Springs announces a bold agenda to fast-track sustainability through two landmark international events: the “Indonesian Tilapia Blue Food” discussion forum in Jakarta, Indonesia and the inaugural “Honduran Aquaculture Congress” in Choluteca, Honduras. These events, taking place on November 28th, 2024, are expected to unite over 400 industry experts and decision-makers from around the globe to chart actionable solutions for a greener, lower-carbon aquaculture industry.
Aquaculture is essential to global food security, but its environmental impact, especially carbon emissions, demands urgent attention. As part of its sustainability leadership, Regal Springs will convene representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United States Soybean Export Council, national governments, and leading voices from the tilapia and shrimp industries to drive impactful collaboration and set new sustainability standards for the industry.
“By fostering unity across the sector, we aim to establish new benchmarks for sustainability and lead the charge towards a low-carbon future in aquaculture,” stated Alois Hofbauer, CEO of Regal Springs. “These events are the next step in our commitment to a sustainable, responsible, and resilient seafood supply chain.”
Pioneering Carbon Reduction: A Global First for Tilapia Farming
As a pioneer in sustainable aquaculture, Regal Springs was the first tilapia producer to partner with IDH (The Sustainable Trade Initiative), launching an ambitious initiative to measure and reduce environmental impacts, with a particular focus on carbon emissions. Supported by organizations such as the Dutch Government and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, IDH promotes sustainable practices across private sectors, creating a framework for meaningful progress.
Through IDH’s collaborative model, Regal Springs has worked with leading seafood companies to develop robust methodologies for environmental assessments. Using an ISO 14040/14044-based approach, Regal Springs successfully quantified the carbon footprint of its tilapia products. After two years of collaboration with feed suppliers to include Scope 3 emissions in its calculations, Regal Springs announced its 2023 carbon footprint results for its Honduran products: 7 Kg CO2e/Kg for frozen tilapia and 5.3 KG CO2e/Kg of fresh tilapia. For both products, the three primary contributors to emissions, ranked by intensity, are tilapia feed, emissions from the processing plant, and the grow-out stage.
“These findings underscore our commitment to transparency and affirm our determination to reduce aquaculture’s carbon footprint,” Hofbauer added. “We are proud to be at the forefront, showing that a sustainable future for aquaculture is both achievable and essential.”
Global Expansion of Carbon Measurement and a Call to Industry Action
Building on its progress, Regal Springs plans to extend its carbon footprint assessment to include products from Indonesia and Mexico, as well as its corporate carbon footprint, with new results expected by the end of 2026. Reinforcing its commitment, Regal Springs recently published a comprehensive Climate Change Policy, now accessible on its website.
As a call to collective action, Regal Springs urges seafood companies and retailers worldwide to join the IDH Aquaculture Working Group. Together, they can drive transformative change, fostering industry-wide collaboration to create a truly sustainable and resilient seafood sector.
About Regal Springs
Regal Springs is a global leader in sustainable aquaculture, recognized for producing Naturally Better Tilapia™. Operating across multiple regions, the company prioritizes environmental stewardship and animal welfare at every level of its operations. For more information, please visit: www.regalsprings.com.
About IDH
Founded in 2008, IDH is an international foundation uniting public and private stakeholders to create sustainable and inclusive global agricultural markets. For more information, visit idh.org.
Media Contact:
Vernon Bradley
Head of Marketing and Media Relations, Regal Springs
+44 7757 505 358
[email protected]