You are cordially invited to learn about the six pillars of the Australis Sustainability Strategy
Pilar 1
Good
Governance
We seek to carry out all business activities with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical and governance standards, promoting transparency with all our stakeholders and regulatory compliance, demonstrating coherence between speech and action.
By 2023, we have reduced
environmental and labor
sanctions by
- Compliance Model
- Compliance and Sanctions
- Complaints Channel
Compliance
Model
In order to guarantee our legislative responsibilities, Australis, through the Legal and Regulatory Affairs Management, has updated its Compliance Policy, which sets out the commitments that the company adopts and internalizes to comply with legal responsibilities.
This policy promoted a relevant milestone for the company, as well as at an industry level: The first Australis Integrated Compliance Model.
This model is a management system that allows us to standardize processes to comply with current regulations in different areas, such as: Crime Prevention, Free Competition, Regulatory Environmental Compliance, Information Security and Government and Transparency. This system centralizes the execution of all activities related to these issues, in order to prove Australis's commitment to doing things transparently, within the legal framework, with the best use of available resources.
Compliance
and Sanctions
As a company in the salmon industry, we are subject to strict environmental and social legislation and regulation, which encourages us to develop tools and initiatives that help us integrate these indications into our processes, turning the regulatory framework into the basic principle of our operation. Unfortunately, sometimes situations arise that result in violations or non-compliance with said regulation that give rise to the application of corrective measures.
In coherence with our principles of transparency, we detail below the total number of sanctions that resulted in fines paid between January and December 2023: Total number of monetary sanctions, paid from January to December, according to the methodology used by the GSI. It is worth mentioning that the penalties issued in previous years may be paid and closed in the reporting year (2023).
In the last 5 years, we have reduced environmental sanctions to 0. At the same time, we continue to challenge ourselves year after year to continue reducing and eliminating Labor sanctions.
Complaints Channel
Collaborators may report, when there is a well-founded suspicion or certainty of the occurrence, any event that reports serious contraventions or may violate the principles, values and/or procedures referred to in our Code of Ethics and Conduct, through the Complaints Channel of Australis Seafoods available on corporate intranet and company website. During 2023, 9 complaints were received related to the Crime Prevention Model, of which 7 are closed and 2 are under investigation in accordance with the monitoring defined in the COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE of Australis Seafoods, issuing a final report, which was reviewed. and validated by the Ethics Committee.
Crimes considered in the Crime Prevention Model
Unfair Administration / Violation of the Code of Ethics and Conduct / Asset Laundering / Misappropriation and Distraction / Bribery of a National or Foreign Public Official / Water Pollution / Corruption Between Private Parties / Financing Terrorism / Non-observance of Isolation or Other Preventive Measure Provided by the Health Authority / Incompatible Negotiation
Pilar 2
Responsible
Operations
We know that natural resources are limited, so we ensure that the use of raw materials from Pelagic Fishing, such as fishmeal and fish oil, come from sustainable and traceable sources. In addition, we consider the responsible use of soy.
During 2023, Australis achieved the best performance in history in fishmeal use:
0,08%
- Conversion factor
- Pelagic Fishing Dependency
- Best sites y farmer of the year 2023!
Conversion
factor
The conversion factor (FCR) is a production indicator that represents the amount of total feed required to produce 1 kg. of salmon. When we speak of the biological FCR (b), we consider the mortality of the period, while the economic FCR (e) does not include the dead biomass.
Annually, we seek to reduce our FCR values, since in this way we demonstrate a better performance in the growth of our fish, with greater retention of nutrients and energy.
Pelagic Fishing
Dependency
A great challenge in terms of sustainability is the decrease in dependency on raw materials of marine origin, specifically Fishmeal and Fish Oil, since these are from pelagic fishing, which causes effects on natural resources.
To measure our dependency on Fishmeal and Fish Oil, we use the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR), a rate that considers the number of pelagic fish required to produce the amount of fishmeal (FFDRm) or fish oil (FFDRo) needed. to produce 1 kg of salmon.
Best sites y farmer
of the year 2023!
Once again Australis has been recognized for its good performance in terms of Conversion Factor (FCR), through the “Best Sites 2023” and “Farmer of the Year awards”, from our feed suppliers.
During 2023, we recognized the next seawaters centers for having excellent FCR results:
- Caleta Fog, Center XII region: FCR 1,00
- Matilde 2, Center XI region: FCR 1,0140
- Moraleda, Center XI region: FCR 1,03
- JamesY, Center XI region: FCR 1,0529
- Williams, Center XI region: FCR 1,0534
- Italia, Center XI region: FCR 1,0570
- Obstrucción, Center XII region FCR 1,0589
We are proud to be recognized in these important instances, which involves the Production, Animal Health, and Planning teams, among other areas.
Pilar 3
Responsible
Product
We demonstrate our commitment to the highest quality and food safety standards by operating efficiently and responsibly, concerned about our relationship with the environment and surroundings, in addition to continuous improvement in our practices, investment, human capital, and traceability of the product and its inputs throughout the value chain.
The lowest figure in our history,
in the use
of antibiotics
- SOUTHRING: THE GLOBAL BRAND OF AUSTRALIS SEAFOODS
- Use of Antibiotics
- Fish Mortality
SOUTHRING: THE GLOBAL BRAND
OF AUSTRALIS SEAFOODS
A brand that reflects who we are and our objective: We are proud of our origin in southern Chile and work hard to grow the best salmon in the world. Southring salmon are farmed in the cold waters of the Chilean fjords, respecting and replicating their natural life cycle, from the Freshwater stage to the Seawater stage.
After years of careful study and selection, Australis chose the marine sites that offer the best conditions for growing salmon on Earth, where accompanied by a team of experts, make Australis Salmon a unique product, unmatched in flavor, texture and color.
Use of Antibiotics
The use of antibiotics in the Chilean aquaculture industry is a necessary practice for the control of bacterial pathogens, a measure used only reactively under strict sanitary control, to detect possible diseases in advance and thus reduce losses due to mortality of our farmed salmon.
In coherence with our health strategy rigorously implemented year after year, we continue the progressive decrease in the use of antibiotics in our farming centers, achieving the lowest figure in our history, also being one of the companies with the lowest consumption in the industry.
In the last 5 years, we have reduced the use of antibiotics to control the health status of our fish. In addition, we are one of the companies associated to GSI, with the least use of drugs.
Fish Mortality
Our production strategy is based on the prevention of diseases in farmed fish, promoting their health and well-being. Although it is difficult to definitively avoid diseases, we try to prevent their emergence, stopping their development and thus avoiding mortalities.
Pilar 4
People
We know that our most important capital is people, so we are committed to providing the possible conditions and facilities for a good performance of their work, accompanying their professional and personal growth. In addition, we guarantee healthy work environments through the development of strategies that allow us to consolidate a culture of safety and health at work.
By 2023
we have reduced
the absence rate by
-
CERTIFICATION OF
STANDARD 3262 -
TOGETHER WE ARE
AUSTRALIS -
Main Indicators of Health
and Safety of Workers (SST)
CERTIFICATION OF
STANDARD 3262
Within the framework of our Sustainability Strategy and the “Australis + Diversity” program, during 2023 we achieved the certification of the NCh3262 with the implementation of a Management System for Gender Equality and the reconciliation of work, family and personal life, becoming the first company in the industry to manage and certify the implementation of a system for gender parity and equality, identifying and making visible the gaps, barriers and gender inequities present with the aim of generating actions aimed at continuous improvement in the work environment.
TOGETHER WE ARE AUSTRALIS
Australis has the commitment of more than 1897 collaborators, who, from the Biobío region to Magallanes, make up a diverse group in terms of age range, origin, culture and workplace, sharing a set of fundamental principles and values, towards whom we promote fair treatment and safe and healthy working conditions for each one of them.
direct employees hired by Australis
Seafoods
and Safety of Workers (SST)
SST is one of our priorities, since it is essential to provide ideal and safe working conditions for the performance of each one of our workers. The accident rate it is one of the key indicators, which is calculated with the number of injuries including fatalities, which lead to the inability to work. On the other hand, we talk about absence rate to any absence related to the personal health of a worker, which is calculated based on the Total number of days of absence / total number of working days.
Australis has not presented fatalities of employees hired by the company, as a result of occupational accidents in our operations.
Pilar 5
Good
Environment
We want to ensure a sustainable integration of our activity, the biodiversity of the oceans and the natural environment of our operation, through responsible waste management, prevention of fish escapes, responsible interaction with marine fauna and monitoring and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases (GEI) in our operations.
Australis compensates
of the electrical energy used
in its facilities
-
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM -
Fish
Escapes -
Lethal interactions
with marine fauna -
Carbon
footprint -
Waste
management
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
In 2023, the new Law 21,305 on Energy Efficiency came into force, which seeks to promote the rational and efficient use of energy resources in large consumers, with energy efficiency being the safest, most economical and sustainable way to cover energy needs at the country level and achieve Carbon neutrality by 2050.
What is an Energy Efficiency Management System?
An Energy Management System (EMS) is a set of elements of a company that interact with each other, with the objective of ensuring continuous improvement in Energy Performance, led by an interdisciplinary team which we call the Energy Efficiency Committee.
Australis is currently in full implementation of an Energy Efficiency Management System (EMS), for which it has an Efficiency Committee, an interdisciplinary team with the responsibility of ensuring that the EMS is established, implemented, maintained and continually improved and for carrying out energy performance improvements.
Fish Escapes
We build strategies that allow us to control the externalities of the climate and predation, which despite being unpredictable, can generate unwanted situations, such as fish escapes, a critical indicator for aquaculture.
By 2023, we have had no fish escapes, which translates into less impact on
the environment, specifically for wild species due to predation and competition.
Lethal interactions
with marine
fauna
We are committed to harmonious coexistence with our environment and biodiversity, seeking to reduce negative interactions with marine fauna. In this sense, all of our farms have wolf nets, monthly interaction report systems and bird and marine mammal sighting records. However, despite our efforts, wild animals may die as a result of their interaction with farm structures.
On July 4, 2022, we received notice from one of our aquaculture net providers, Badinotti Chile S.A., who reported the discovery of a Chilean Tonina or Dolphin -Cephalorhynchus eutropia-, while in one of their workshops they received and unloaded a container with nets previously withdrawn from operation by an external service.
AUSTRALIS CARBON FOOTPRINT
The carbon footprint as a tool for estimating GHG emissions is normally used in various types of organizations globally, since it allows demonstrating environmental commitment by reducing and compensating emissions, applying energy efficiency measures and reducing fossil fuel consumption, among others.
For our production processes, we use energy in the form of fuels and electricity, which implies the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), which are expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq).
In this measurement, we consider all links in the production chain: from production in freshwater centers to transportation logistics to the end customer.
Waste management
Inspired by responsible waste management, we promote the recycling and revaluation of the waste generated by our operations, reducing its final disposal in landfills, thus mitigating the impacts on the environment.
When we harvest a salmon, 70% is used for human consumption, while the surplus 30%, which corresponds to viscera and head, is revalued, generating a new raw material to start a cycle through productive processing in reduction plants, which generate salmon meal and oil, delivering ingredients of high nutritional value to other industries.
Pilar 6
Good
Neighbor
We seek to generate connections and continuous dialogue with all the communities in which we operate, based on trust, transparency and a long-term vision, in addition to contributing to their social and economic development, by prioritizing local hiring and promoting entrepreneurship and Pymes (Small to medium-sized companies).
By 2023,
of our employees
work in the same
region
where they reside.
-
AUSTRALIS SUPPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF MAGALLANES -
Visits to
our facilities -
Social development
through local employment
AUSTRALIS SUPPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF MAGALLANES
In the context of the Australis Regulatory and Environmental Compliance Program, the company made a significant donation in support of the maritime research area of the University of Magallanes, with the purpose of carrying out actions that promote collaboration initiatives and/or generation of scientific research content on environmental issues.
Particularly, this initiative seeks to provide support and continuity to the development of two important research projects: “Wealth of seabirds in Patagonian fjords” and “Chilean dolphin in Patagonian fjords in the Magallanes region”, which will contribute to the generation of scientific content, thus being able to have better quality information for public and private decision-making in this area of aquaculture.
Together we support local scientific development!
Visits to
our facilities
In order to make our processes more transparent and closer to the communities, we annually welcome our neighbors in each of our operations.
- In Puerto Octay, students from Kopernikus School visited our Rahue fish farm.
- In Puerto Chacabuco, our neighbors from the JJVV Los Pioneros and El Salto visited the Rabudos Farming Center.
- In Calbuco, fishermen from the Anahuac Fishermen's Union visited our Fitz Roy process plant.
Happy to welcome our neighbors to our house!
Social development
through local
employment
We have operations from the Biobio region to the Magallanes region, where our collaborators constitute a diverse group coming from different regions of the country. As a company, we seek to promote the hiring of workers of local origin who are interested in being part of the company, establishing the necessary application channels to participate in a personnel selection process in accordance with Australis values.