DIVERSIFICATION IN MARINE AQUACULTUREIn the Aquaculture division in the Valdoviño fish farm, they have been working since 1997 in the development of captive sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) breeding. This is the only sea bream breeding center in the world, both private and public, capable of producing high quality sea bream laying, in a reliable and reproducible way. The creation of this breeding stock began in 1997 with the housing on the farm of 100 adult fish and with the first catches of immature individuals that would be the root of the current stock.
The Aquaculture Division was honored in 2003 with the "Galicia Award for Business Innovation", awarded by the Department of Innovation, Industry and Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, recognizing work D performed in R & by the company in the last 4 years. The commitment with respect for the environment and sustainable growth is one of the main objectives of Isidro de la Cal Enterprise Group, conscious of the need to go beyond mere compliance with environmental legislation, establishing mechanisms for evaluation and continuous improvement. In this sense, Isidro de la Cal, is aware of the need to reconcile economic growth with environmental protection, and in order to optimize the environmental processes and ensuring the continued implementation of such, has joined the Management Environmental System in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 761/2001(EMAS) certified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, being the first aquaculture company in Europe to obtain such certification. Isidro de la Cal has been the first company in the industrial production of Aquaculture within the European Union to be awarded the EMAS accreditation. The effort to establish high standards in environmental controls on their activities, was recognized by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ministry , which awarded through JACUMAR (National Advisory Board for Marine Crops ) the "Third Prize in Environmental Management Systems Implementation “.
Following this line of sustainable growth, Isidro de la Cal decided to transform the producing trout farm in Carballo into an organic production “fish farm “with all its production certified by the prestigious German NATURLAND brand. Naturland standard is perhaps the most demanding in terms of organic production standards throughout the European Union and the most valued in Germany, a market where the majority of the production is destined. All Naturland standards are based on a holistic approach that gives priority to sustainable production, nature conservation, climate change prevention; soil, water and air protection and conservation and consumer protection. The certification audits and monitoring are performed by IMO (Institut für Marktökologie) Institute of Organic Market. This organism is one of the most recognized agencies dedicated to offer certification and quality assurance of products that are environmentally friendly. Starting this year and to comply with European regulations for organic production, both the Carballo production plant and the Espiritu Santo processing plant must pass a series of certification audits by the Regulatory Council of Organic Agriculture in Galicia (CRAEGA ), the only entity that can certify the European standard. Isidro de la Cal has collaborated in the recovery of Galician native species, producing fingerlings of indigenous Galician Atlantic salmon, with its collaboration with the salmon stocking programs of the Xunta de Galicia for the years 2003 -2008. |
Besides working on the development of technology to breed "new" species, IdC also works on the optimization of breeding technology for already established species such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). The issues addressed in these cases are the optimization of production, treatment of diseases (including vaccine development), development of added value products, etc.
Not less important has been the implementation in the farm of an Integrated Management System based on ISO 9001:2001 rule, which guarantees the quality, food safety and full traceability of aquaculture products.