Azerbaijan Fish Farm LLC has achieved Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, making it the first sturgeon breeding farm with a focus on caviar production to receive BAP certification.
Accordong to the Global Seafood Alliance, the certification recognises AFF’s commitment to sustainability. Since its establishment in 2017, AFF has been at the forefront of innovative and responsible fish breeding and caviar production in Azerbaijan.
‘We applaud Azerbaijan Fish Farm for becoming the first caviar farm to achieve BAP certification. This underscores their commitment to responsible practices and their dedication to environmental responsibility, social accountability, food safety and animal welfare,’ said Mike Berthet, GSA’s market development representative in the UK.
In 1954, one of the first in the world experimental aquaculture farms was established in the Neftchala district, pioneering sturgeon fish breeding in the region. In 2017, the farm was privatized by AFF.
AFF’s approach to sustainable aquaculture seamlessly combines traditional and modern breeding techniques, exemplified by its utilisation of the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), cage culture model, and advanced seaside tanks, ensuring optimal water quality and nutrition during incubation and early fish life stages, and ensuring a stress-free growing environment.
AFF’s distinctive capability lies in its utilisation of both freshwater from the Kura River and saltwater from the Caspian Sea. This unique combination mimics the natural habitat of sturgeons and is pivotal in ensuring the caviar’s premium quality.
AFF is also distinguished by its commitment to eco-friendly practices and conservation efforts. The company organises fish release events, releasing then sturgeons for every jar of caviar sold, contributing to the preservation of the highly endangered sturgeon populations endemic to the Caspian Sea.
Currently, Azerbaijan Fish Farm LLC exports its caviar to markets including the USA, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more.
