Nordic Blu Salmon
Norway
Salmon farming has come a long way in environmental practices and acceptance, and Nordic Blu Salmon is at the forefront. Brought to North America exclusively by CleanFish.
The Fish
The Salten Aqua Group (the producer of Nordic Blu Salmon) is vertically integrated and maintains control over the whole process of Nordic Blu Salmon, from broodstock to processing. Pens are stocked at densities below the industry standard — now at even lower densities than previous production — in both spring and fall to ensure consistent harvests throughout the year, as fish take approximately 14-20 months to reach market size. Current annual production is approximately 8,500 tons.
Feed innovations are key to the fish’s leading environmental rankings. Nordic Blu Salmon are fed a custom diet with a higher concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids than conventional feed and with only 17.3% marine content. Vegetable content comes only from producers certified by the Roundtable for Responsible Soy (RTRS). The resulting Fish-In, Fish-Out (FIFO) is 1.13:1.
The farm
Location is everything — especially in salmon farming. Perhaps nowhere in the world is better suited to raising salmon than the isolated, meandering 25 mile-long fjord called Skjerstad near the coastal town of Bodø, Norway where Salten Aqua Group maintains four farm sites raising Nordic Blu Salmon.
Skjerstad fjord, in turn, is fed by the strongest tidal current in the world, which flows through a narrow strait called the Saltstraumen, carrying vast amounts of saltwater back and forth from the
Norwegian sea. Yet impressive tidal currents are only part of the story. Significant winter rainfall and favorable topography work together to bring consistent — and massive — amounts of freshwater from the surrounding valleys and rivers throughout winter and spring, which mitigates most environmental impacts. Lower salinity waters are inhospitable to parasites, so the fjord, and Nordic Blu Salmon, are naturally free of sea lice. Additionally, to this day, the farm sites have never experienced a major escape.
in the kitchen
Nordic Blu Salmon is well suited to raw preparations, and performs well with a variety of cooking methods, including baking, roasting, steaming, pan-searing, and grilling. Fish have an average fat content of 22-23%.
Certifications, Ratings and Awards
Nordic Blu Salmon (produced by Salten Aqua) is the only salmon raised in Skjerstad Fjord. In 2018, when Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch conducted audits of individual farms, they ranked it as the only marine pen-raised Atlantic Salmon in the world with a “Green — Best Choice” rating and a score of 7.17, making Nordic Blu the highest rated farmed salmon in the world. After 2020, Seafood Watch has ceased auditing individual farms, but recommends buying ASC-Certified Atlantic salmon.
All Nordic Blu farm sites are ASC and Global G.A.P. certified.
Resources
Nordic Blu website
Nordic Blu on Instagram @nordicblusalmon
Nordic Blu on Facebook
Downloadable sales sheet (ASC-certified)
Nordic Blu in the news
St. Louis Magazine Nordic Blu Salmon featured on new menu at local institution Herbie’s
Austin Chronicle Nordic Blu Salmon mentioned in coverage of first certified sushi restaurant
Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN) Nordic Blu Salmon For Savvy Seafood Lovers
Nordic Blu Salmon in Restaurant Hospitality and Food Management
Nordic Blu Salmon Debuts at Seafood Expo North America and at Retail
Get nordic Blu near you
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