Dutch retailer Albert Heijn and a supplier consortium are claiming a first for seafood in the Netherlands, launching farmed shrimp "raised with significantly higher welfare standards" and with a low marine footprint.

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The value chain consortium includes shrimp importer Klaas Puul Beheer, feed manufacturer Skretting, innovative feed ingredient providers Veramaris and Protix, and Cofimar, an Ecuador-based farm.

The feed incorporates alternative ingredients such as Veramaris algal oil, a rich source of essential omega-3 EPA and DHA, and Protix insect meal, significantly reducing the marine footprint of the feed formulation. 

The shrimp are Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified and raised in accordance with stringent welfare practices, ensuring both environmental and social responsibility throughout the farming process, the group said.

"Collaborating with Veramaris, Skretting, Klaas Puul, Cofimar and Protix not only advances sustainable aquaculture but also delivers healthier and more sustainable choices to our customers," said Emiel Beekwilders, quality manager at Albert Heijn.

As the consortium celebrates this significant achievement, it is also looking to the future by actively seeking partnerships with other retailers to widen the availability of sustainable shrimp and expand these sustainable practices across the industry, it said.