Irish Organic Salmon (Irish Seafood Producers Group)
Ireland
Irish Seafood Producers Group (ISPG) is a salmon farming cooperative created to keep the community’s traditional ties to the sea, while providing the younger generation a reason — and the means — to stay in their rural, Gaelic speaking area.
the fish
Along the exposed western seaboard of Ireland, the land is clear of industry, leaving its waters exceptionally clean. Irish Organic salmon are raised without hormones or antibiotics. With room to swim in netted pens that are 99.5% water, they don’t need them. No chemicals are used to clean their nets, so there are none to pollute the surrounding water. Even fish protein that feeds the salmon comes from trimmings of fish for human consumption, bound together with organic grain.
Thanks to the dynamic nature of the waters in which Irish Organic salmon swim, the flesh has a lower fat content than most farmed Atlantic salmon. The look and texture of the fillet call to mind the wild animal. For this reason, Irish Organic salmon benefits from a wider array of preparations, especially smoking and curing.
the farm
Traditionally, the people of Kilkieran, in County Galway, were tied to the sea. Over time, however, fortunes in fisheries waned, and, with no industry, there wasn’t much reason to stay. So young people moved to Dublin and beyond, leaving the old ways and Gaelic language behind — and taking the region’s future with them.
In 1986, a small group of farmers and fishers established a cooperative called the Irish Seafood Producers Group (ISPG), partially to give the younger generation a reason, and the means, to stay. And they decided they would farm to the highest standards of stewardship. ISPG now operates four sites in County Galway and County Mayo.
in the kitchen
Irish Organic salmon have a lower fat content than most farmed Atlantic salmon. While the taste retains the essential flavors of farmed salmon, the look and texture of the fillet call to mind the wild animal. For this reason, Irish Organic salmon benefits from a wider array of preparations, especially smoking and curing.
resources
Irish Seafood Producers Group website
Certifications, Ratings and Awards
Certified organic by BioSuisse, Bio Hellas, Naturland, Agriculture Biologique
