The Tasmanian aquaculture company, Spring Bay Seafoods, has been awarded for its achievements in low density mussel farming with a win in the international Friend of the Sea Awards 2009.

The company took out the aquaculture category in the awards which recognised best practice and contribution to working with an ecologically friendly and sustainable marine habitat.

Spring Bay Seafoods blue mussel operation is a close-cycle hatchery production. The mussels are rope-cultured deepwater mussels grown on unique suspended long-lines between six to ten metres below the surface.

The Friend of the Sea Award aims at encouraging and motivating seafood companies to lower their impact on the environment and on exploited or endangered stocks.

Now in its second year the awards are run by the Friend of the Sea organisation which developed the only certification scheme in the world which can certify both farmed and wild caught seafood companies as ecologically sound.

Friend of the Sea Certification follows the FAO-Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.

Spring Bay Seafoods managing director Phil Lamb travelled to Brussels in Belgium where the awards were held as part of the European Seafood Exposition.

He said he believed the kind of sustainable practice that the company was involved in was “imperative for the future of aquaculture and the preservation of our waters, environment and industry”.

“We will continue to strive for excellence by engaging new and innovative ways to improve this vital aspect of our business,” he said.