The role of salmon aquaculture eco-certification in corporate social responsibility and the delivery of ecosystem services and disservices

Abstract

Aquaculture eco-certification is especially relevant in salmon farming where it has emerged as a popular corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, providing global standards that can be applied to a globally traded commodity. However, eco-certification is just one of many CSR strategies used to address seafood sustainability at the corporate level. CSR is important for company image, but it is not clear whether or how these strategies contribute to sustainability outcomes. This paper applies an ecosystem services framework to an analysis of sustainability reporting from top salmon farming companies to identify links between eco-certification, other CSR strategies, and the delivery of ecosystem services. Although eco-certification was used to indicate commitment to sustainability practices across all companies, other CSR strategies, especially practices, power, and partnership, were more frequently and explicitly connected to the delivery of ecosystem services. Results show that individual CSR strategies including eco-certification are not isolated but interact and work in concert to manage the supply of ecosystem services.